Continental Cars, importers of Volkswagen cars, said today that they would shortly contact customers whose vehicle have Type EA 189 Diesel engines from the Volkswagen, Audi and Sear brands.
The EA 189 diesel engines are the engines at the heart of a scandal for having software to trick emissions tests.
Continental Cars said that as from this week VW customers have an online tool to verify if their cars are affected. All they need to do is input their chassis number.
Audi and SEAT online tool will be ready by early next week.Customers will be able to access this online tool from each brand’s website:
www.volkswagen.com.mt
www.audi.com.mt
www.seat.com.mt
UK imports customers can either check on the UK websites or may use the above online tool.
Apart from the above online tool, customers may call free phone number 800 491 89 for additional information.
The company said all affected vehicles are safe from a technical standpoint and are roadworthy.
"The Volkswagen Group is making every effort to solve the problem as quickly as possible and will bear all costs of the measures to be performed, if needed, on the vehicles and do everything in its power to win back their customers’ trust.
"The Volkswagen Group affirms that all its new EU6 diesel-powered cars currently on sale in the European Union including Malta meet the legal requirements and environmental standards and are not affected by the EA 189" the company said.
VW says still unclear if emissions software is illegal in Europe
Meanwhile, Volkswagen said today it is still examining whether and to what extent its cheating software installed in about eight million cars in Europe functions illegally.
VW said it is still unclear whether the emissions-control software is illegal under European rules but added the software is capable of recognising whether cars are undergoing laboratory dynamometer testing.
Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported earlier today that the software used to rig emissions tests in the United States was also switched on in diesel cars in Europe, citing a company spokesman.
"We are working intensely on technical solutions," a VW spokesman said in response to the report. "For that reason, questions posed at this point of time are speculative."