At least 4,000 VW Group vehicles faulty in Estonia
VW admitted in late September that 11 million vehicles with its EA-189 diesel engines have illegally installed software. The company first said there are over 2,000 affected cars in Estonia, but this number has already doubled.
The VW scandal started on September 18, when the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that Volkswagen illegally installed software determined by the EPA to be a "defeat device", designed to circumvent environmental regulations on emissions of nitrogen oxides pollution by diesel-engined 2009 to 2015 model year Volkswagen- and Audi-branded cars. The company, Europe’s largest car maker and second in the world, was reluctant first, but soon admitted that 11 million vehicles with EA-189 VW diesel engines, including Seat and Škoda models, have been affected around the world.
On September 30, after a week-long audit, VW finally said that the issue concerns 1,511 cars and 530 utility vehicles, such as vans, in Estonia.
However, the company didn’t specify whether the first audit concerned just VW-branded cars, or also other brands that belong to the group, such as Audi, Seat and Škoda.
The representative of Škoda dealer in Estonia disclosed to Eesti Päevaleht on Monday that 1,963 Škoda models sold in Estonia have a defeat device. Audi dealer didn’t know the answer yet and Seat’s representative was not available.
Volkswagen has not recalled the affected models yet. It said on September 30 that “technical solutions” are underway and will be announced in October, while underlining again that “customers are able to continue to safely use their cars as part of their daily lives.” VW said that it will contact affected clients and repairs will be arranged.
The company has so far confirmed that it plans to set aside a provision of some 6.5 billion euros, “to cover the necessary service measures and other efforts to win back the trust of its customers.” Some reports say that the lawsuits could cost VW up to 20 billion euros.
Editor: S. Tambur