Volkswagen to start voluntary recalls in India from June

Move part of global plan to bring on par all EA189 diesel engines; company lines up three launches in 2016

German carmaker Volkswagen is geared to leave the emission controversy behind in India and is looking to lure customers back with a new portfolio. While it is set to launch the made-in-India Ameo and Polo GTI for auto enthusiasts and plug-in hybrid Passat later this year, is also going to do a voluntary recall of 198,000 Volkswagen vehicles in India from June or July. The recall figure for the entire Volkswagen Group, including Audi and Skoda, would be higher.

The company maintains that it is doing a voluntary recall of vehicles fitted with the EA189 engines, even though it complies with emission standards in India. The EA189 diesel engines were found to have the emission defeating software in the US, which is why the automaker is recalling vehicles with the engine series across the globe. Recalls have commenced in Europe and once Volkswagen India gets the software, it will start recalling vehicles from June-July onwards.

While the company maintains that it meets all emission norms in India, the recall is voluntary in nature as it does not distinguish between customers across the globe. Speaking on the subject, Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said the decision to do a voluntary recall in India was part of a holistic approach towards the EA189 engine. Mayer said: "The recall is a global recall and it has started with Europe, It will basically be a software update. Once we have the software and it is certified by the government in India, we will start communicating with customers. For cars with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre engines, an additional plastic tube will be fitted (six inches long) for air intake and to support air flow. Cars with engines higher than 1.5-litre capacity will only see a software update."

The German automaker wants all the EA189 engines to be of the same standard, which would also act as a mechanism to build trust with their existing customer base across the globe. The automaker is in the process of building capacity at its service centres and workshops in India, as it would like to complete the process by the end of the calendar year.

Even as it is focused on rebuilding the trust with Indian customers, Volkswagen is armed with a plan to bring consumers back into its showrooms. Given that the Indian market is moving towards the premium end, Volkswagen is at an advantage, believes Mayer, as it is already a premium brand. Volkswagen is looking to launch the made in India compact sedan Ameo in the second half of the calendar year. The Tiguan, which will be launched in Europe shortly, will be launched in the spring of 2017, while the plug-in Passat Hybrid will also be launched in 2016. For auto enthusiasts, VW is launching the Polo GTI, the fastest car in the segment, targeted at auto enthusiasts. Its price would be upwards of Rs 20 lakh.