Volkswagen fails emission tests in India, gets notice

Cars found to be emitting 5-9 times more nitrogen oxide

The government on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to German automobile maker Volkswagen after its testing agency found the company’s diesel models to be emitting more than expected nitrogen oxide (NOx). Samples of Volkswagen India diesel vehicles tested by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) were found to be emitting up to nine times more NOx, compared to the levels tested during the approval stage.

This was much lower than the 40 times higher emission found in Volkswagen vehicles tested in markets such as the US. It still is a violation. NOx causes a variety of health and environmental impacts.

“We tested 11 vehicles manufactured by the Volkswagen Group in India. We discovered the diversion in emission ranging from five to nine times compared with the tests done during the prototype approval stage in the laboratory,” Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director of ARAI, told Business Standard.

She said Volkswagen has been asked to explain its position on the findings and also disclose if an emission defeat device (similar to those used in US) had been used in India.

ARAI has gone by emission measurements. The diesel Jetta, Vento, Octavia and Audi A4 and A6 cars were found to be emitting more NOx. The Jetta and Vento are manufactured under the Volkswagen brand. The Octavia is manufactured by Skoda. Both Skoda and Audi are Volkswagen-owned brands.

Volkswagen is required to reply to the show-cause notice by month end. It is likely that Volkswagen will have to initiate a recall in the Indian market. “Volkswagen Group India has received the show-cause notice from ARAI and the group will respond to it by November 30,” a spokesperson said.

The world’s second-largest car maker is in the process of recalling 11 million cars globally after it was found to be violating emission norms by using a cheating device. The process started in September.

The Indian government later directed ARAI to investigate and test vehicles sold by the company in India. A report of the investigation was submitted to the government on Tuesday.

Volkswagen has seen a clear impact of the emission controversy in India. After seven sequential months of growth, its sales declined 21 per cent in September.

Matters worsened in October, when it saw sales drop about 30 per cent.

The slowing sale in India, a reflection of declining customer interest, is eroding the small market share Volkswagen had in India.

The company had a share of 1.73 per cent in the 2.6 million domestic market last year. The share stood at just 1.2 per cent in October. October was a high-growth month for most car makers on account of the high festive demand.