Volkswagen emission manipulations affect vehicles in Germany

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt on Friday said 2.8 million vehicles were affected by Volkswagen emission manipulations which involved not only passenger cars but also light commercial vehicles.

Dobrindt told German lawmakers that vehicles with 1.6 and 2 litre diesel engines in Germany were affected by the manipulations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Vehicles with 1.2 litre diesel engines were also possibly involved in the scandal.

He urged the German car giant to further clarify the situation and find technical solutions.

"We expect a binding timetable as to when there will be a technical solution, and by when it can be implemented," the minister said.

A commission appointed by Dobrindt is conducting inquiries at Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg.

The emission scandal began unfolding last week when the car giant said it had used software in the US to provide false emission test results.

On Thursday, the German government was informed that Volkswagen also cheated in in emission tests of its diesel vehicles in Europe as it did in the US.

The automaker admitted earlier this week that it manipulated emissions in some 11 million cars.

The company's chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigned on Wednesday following the revelation.

The supervisory board said it would announce Winterkorn's successor at a board meeting later on Friday.