No defeat device in cars; follow BS-IV norms in India: Volkswagen

German auto major Volkswagen, which has been told by the green tribunal to stop selling diesel vehicles fitted with “cheat device”, on Wednesday said its cars are not fitted with any such equipment.

Responding to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, asking it to give in writing that it would sell only those vehicles which comply with all emission norms as applicable, the company said its vehicles are not violating Bharat Stage IV (BS IV) emission norms.

A BUMPY RIDE

• Volkswagen has admitted to the use of defeat device in 11 million diesel engine cars sold in the US, Europe and other global markets that allowed manipulation of emissions tests by changing the performance of the vehicles to improve results.
• According to latest reports, the company could face fine of up to $90 billion in the US following a lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice.
• In India, the company had last month announced recalling of 323,700 vehicles across its three brands — Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen — after a government-ordered probe found it using diesel engines equipped with a defeat device to cheat emission tests

“Volkswagen Group India has already intimated why it believes that its cars are not equipped with a ‘defeat device’,” a company spokesperson said. Furthermore, the findings from the evaluations undertaken by the company under the observation of the Automotive Research Association of India show the tested cars of the brands such as Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi are not violating the BS IV norms in India, the spokesperson added. On the NGT order, the company said: “Volkswagen Group India will respond to the order from NGT by the deadline given.”

The NGT on Wednesday directed the company to not sell any diesel vehicle in India fitted with “cheat device” and give an undertaking in this regard.

Volkswagen has admitted use of defeat device in 11 million diesel engine cars sold in the US, Europe and other global markets that allowed manipulation of emissions tests by changing the performance of the vehicles to improve results.

According to latest reports, the company could face fine of up to $90 billion in the US following a lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice.

In India, the company had last month announced recalling of 323,700 vehicles across its three brands — Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen — after a government-ordered probe found it using diesel engines equipped with a defeat device which to cheat emission tests.

The recall covers cars sold from 2008 till end of November 2015 in India.

The recall will encompass cars from the Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda model range which carry the software that requires to be updated.