VW diesel cars with E189 engine fitted with 'defeat device'

Government on Tuesday said initial findings by apex testing agency ARAI indicate the diesel cars manufactured in India by Volkswagen having E189 engine were fitted with the ‘defeat device’, which may lead to excess nitrogen oxide emission levels in on-road vehicles.

"Based on the initial findings, there is an indication that the diesel vehicles fitted with E189 engine and manufactured in India by Volkswagen Group of Companies are fitted with the 'defeat device'.

"Fitment of such a device may lead to excess NOx emissions on road," Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises G M Siddeshwara said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Automotive Research Association of India had submitted the preliminary report to the government on October 28.

The minister further said, ‘at the moment, there are no specific norms or limits for measuring on road emissions coming out of cars’.

"The possible violation is with respect to fitment of defeat device on the vehicles so that it senses that the vehicle is being tested on the mandatory driving cycle and

adjusts the performance of after-treatment device accordingly to meet the regulatory emission test cycle in the laboratory," Siddeshwara said.

"Depending upon the outcome of the disclosure and test findings, possible penal/administrative action and/or recall of vehicles, as the case may be, shall be taken in accordance with applicable national laws," said the minister.

Government last month issued a notice to German car major Volkswagen after testing agency ARAI found "significant variations" in on-road emission levels in the automaker's diesel models of Jetta, Octavia, Audi A4 and Audi A6 in India.

Volkswagen India sells Jetta model, while Octavia and Audi A4 and A6 models are retailed by Skoda and Audi, respectively.

Both Audi and Skoda brands are owned by the Volkswagen group.

VW has already admitted that 11 million diesel engine cars worldwide were fitted with the software that helped in manipulating emission tests.

It faces fine of up to $18 billion in the US.

Image: A Volkswagen Golf GTI. Photograph: Reuters