Just a month after questions relating to the CO2 figures measured on some of the Volkswagen Group’s models arose, the German carmaker says that it has largely concluded the clarification of the matter.
Following extensive internal investigations and measurement checks, Volkswagen says that it is now clear that almost all of these model variants do correspond to the CO2 figures originally determined. This means that these vehicles can be marketed and sold without any limitations. It claims that the suspicion that the fuel consumption figures of current production vehicles had been unlawfully changed was not confirmed.
However, during internal re-measurements slight deviations were found on nine model variants of the Volkswagen brand. Volkswagen Group says that these model variants will be re-measured by a neutral technical service under the supervision of the appropriate authority by Christmas. If in these cases, the original figures are confirmed as correct, there will be no consequences, and these cars can then be offered for sale by dealers without any reservations.
However, in the case of any deviations in the CO2 figures in these nine model variants, Volkswagen Group says that these figures will be adjusted in the course of the normal processes as required. Volkswagen presented these results to the investigation commission of the Federal Government and the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA ).
The figure of approximately 800,000 vehicles originally published as being under suspicion by the Volkswagen Group has not been confirmed. However, Volkswagen Group says that the deviations found in the figures for the nine model variants amount to a few grams of CO2 on average, corresponding to increased cycle consumption in the NEDC of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 litres per 100 kilometres (or 2,825mpg to 1412 mpg ).
Volkswagen claims that with an annual production of approximately 36,000 vehicles, these model variants correspond to around only 0.5 per cent of the volume of the Volkswagen brand. The group’s subsidiaries Audi, Skoda, and Seat have also agreed a similar procedure with the approval authorities responsible for the vehicles initially considered.
Volkswagen claims that their customers’ real-world consumption figures do not change and neither are any technical vehicle modifications necessary for the CO2 issue. Against this background, Volkswagen says that the negative impact on their earnings of €2 billion that was originally expected will not now be realised.
