VW emissions investigation widened to other brands

Vehicle regulators in Germany have opened up the emissions investigation into suspected diesel emission rigging to include an additional 20 manufacturers outside of the Volkswagen (VW) group.

The announcement sees more than 30 non-VW Group models added to planned tests by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt - KBA).

A KBA statement read: “Since the end of September KBA has been investigating whether further manipulation of emissions, of nitrogen oxides in particular, is taking place in the market.”

Diesel car brands being investigated by KBA include: BMW 3 Series and 5 Series; Mini Daimler Mercedes C-Class, CLS, Sprinter, V-Class, and Daimler Smart Fortwo; Fiat Chrysler Alfa Romeo Guilietta, Panda, Ducato, and Jeep Cherokee; Ford Focus and C-Max; Geely Volvo V60; GM Opel (Vauxhall) Astra, Insignia, and Zafira; GM Chevrolet Cruze; Honda HR-V; Hyundai iX35 and i20; Jaguar Land Rover Evoque; Mazda 6; Mitsubishi ASX; Nissan Navara; Peugeot 308; Renault Dacia and Kadjar; Toyota Auris; and the VW Golf, Beetle, Passat, Touran, Touareg, Golf Sportsvan, Polo, Crafter, Amarok; Audi A6, A3 and Porsche Macan.

Elsewhere, according to German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, VW has set an end of November deadline for its whistleblower programme, aiming to increase the pressure on employees who had knowledge of the scandal but fear they could lose their jobs if the information comes to light.

VW is promising staff they will keep their jobs and will be exempt from damage claims if they shed light on the scandal, but board members and levels of management directly below them are to be excluded from the scheme, the newspaper said.

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