Volkswagen Group UK announces action plan to fix cheat software

VW has announced how it is going to tackle the emissions crisis in terms of customer support for affected vehicles. In the coming days, the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) details of affected vehicles using the EA 189 Euro 5 engine will be released to retailers. In addition, a self-serve process for customers to check if their vehicle is affected will be set up.

Step by step, affected customers will be contacted, with details of a process to get their vehicles corrected in the near future. In the meantime, all vehicles are technically safe and roadworthy.

Under the action plan, the Volkswagen Group brands whose vehicles are affected will present the technical solutions and measures to relevant responsible authorities in October.

Customers with these vehicles will be kept informed over the coming weeks and months. All of the Group brands affected will set up national websites to update customers on developments.

The specific numbers of vehicles in the UK affected per brand are as follows:

Volkswagen Passenger Cars – 508,276
Audi – 393,450
SEAT – 76,773
ŠKODA – 131,569
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – 79,838

When asked for details of the commercial vehicles affected, as many of these are the base model for campervan conversions, VW UK told MMM magazine that the model breakdown wasn’t available yet. New VW T6 models are unaffected by the scandal as they use Euro VI engines.

Other fallout from the developing story is that Stephan Grühsem, Head of Group Comminucations has left the company by mutual consent, being replaced by Hans-Gerd Bod, and that VW CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned as over a third was wiped off the value of VW shares. German prosecutors have now launched a criminal probe against Winterkorn. Meanwhile, the class action lawsuits against VW have already started with UK law firm Leigh Day calling for a full refund of the cost customers have paid thinking they were buying a clean diesel car, as well as compensation.

VW launches T6 Transporter-based California campervan. VW launches fourth generation of Caddy commercial vehicle.