CO2 scandal affects fewer cars than expected, says VW

Initial findings of an investigation into the Volkswagen Group’s array of cheating scandals claims the number of cars with the wrong CO2 emissions figures is much fewer than initially anticipated. According to the carmaker it shows there was no systematic cheating on CO2 figures.

While the car firm initially believed up to 800,000 cars were involved, it now estimates just 36,000 vehicles have the wrong CO2 figure and in most instances the error is a matter of one or two grammes.

Investigations continue in how cheat devices were fitted to 11 million vehicle worldwide to distort official tests for Nitrogen oxides (NOx).

VW Group chief executive Matthias Müller is due to hold a press conference on Thursday to outline the findings of the initial investigation into both emissions scandals. The investigation report will cite combined efforts of investigators from the German Transport Department, public prosecutors, Volkswagen's own staff investigators and the independent US law firm Jones Day, which it commissioned to deliver an internal investigation into both the NOx and CO2 scandals.

According to Wednesday’s statement from the firm, it has found that only nine VW branded models currently on sale were wrongly calculated.

The affected models on sale range from 1-litre petrol automatic VW Polo superminis to 2-litre diesel Golfs and Jettas with manual transmissions.

The emissions figures for these cars are believed to be out by one or two grammes, which means not all of the revised CO2 figures will impact on either vehicle registration tax payments or motor tax rates.

In Ireland only six of the nine models affected are on sale, as Irish dealers don't stock the affected Polo, Passat Alltrack, or the Golf convertible variants. Most of the Irish cars affected are either Jettas or 2-litre diesel manual Golfs, neither of which are sold here in large numbers.

It means the number of Irish-registered cars with the wrong CO2 figure is expected to be significantly lower than the firm’s initial estimate of 9,000 cars.

The findings announced Wednesday don't relate to the original NOx emissions scandal concerning illicit software fitted to 11 million vehicles worldwide and designed to cheat emission tests. There is no claim that the number of vehicles affected by this has changed, with 115,917 vehicles in Ireland across the Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen brands due to be recalled in the coming months over the matter.