VW Approved to Fix Another 2.6 Million Diesels in Europe

Volkswagen AG has received approval from Germany’s KBA motor transport authority to recall another 2.6 million diesel-powered vehicles in Europe that had been rigged with secret software to sidestep emission rules.

VW admits it sold about 11 million rigged 4-cylinder diesels worldwide, including 8.5 million units in Europe. The company so far has been cleared to recall about 5.6 million of the latter vehicles, all of them fitted with 1.2- and 2.0-liter diesels from the company’s EA 189 engine family.

Repairs in Europe to date have involved software updates only. This week’s KBA approval covers 1.6-liter diesels, which also will require the installation of a simple device to smooth air flow into the engine.

Reuters reports that VW continues to insist the original software did not violate EU rules, even though tests show it permitted nitrogen oxide emissions to surge under normal driving conditions. Earlier today the premier for Lower Saxony, VW’s home state in Germany retorted that “this manipulative action is inexcusable, regardless of whether the software is legal.”