This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34505593

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
400,000 VW cars in UK need engine modification 400,000 VW cars in UK need engine modification
(35 minutes later)
About 400,000 Volkswagen cars in the UK will need fuel injectors altered as well as a software fix, its UK boss said.About 400,000 Volkswagen cars in the UK will need fuel injectors altered as well as a software fix, its UK boss said.
Paul Willis, UK managing director, said that cars fitted with the 1.6L diesel engine would need the physical remedy.Paul Willis, UK managing director, said that cars fitted with the 1.6L diesel engine would need the physical remedy.
Those with the larger 2L engine would only need a software fix, he told the Commons Transport select committee.Those with the larger 2L engine would only need a software fix, he told the Commons Transport select committee.
Mr Willis apologised "sincerely and unreservedly" for letting down customers.Mr Willis apologised "sincerely and unreservedly" for letting down customers.
He told the MPs on the committee that VW first sold cars with engines that could cheat emissions testing in the UK in 2008. He told the MPs on the committee that it was in 2008 that VW first sold cars with engines that could cheat emissions testing in the UK.
A total of 1.2 million vehicles sold in the UK had been affected, but the remaining two thirds would only need software altered, Mr Willis explained.A total of 1.2 million vehicles sold in the UK had been affected, but the remaining two thirds would only need software altered, Mr Willis explained.
He also told MPs there were question marks over the emissions testing process and that the German company should discuss with UK regulators the possibility of covering the cost of retesting vehicles. Recalls of UK vehicles that needed alternations would start in the first quarter of 2016.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin told MPs on the Transport committee that the scandal would cause VW "very substantial damage ... and they deserve to". Asked more technical questions about the emissions scandal, Mr Willis explained that his role involved responsibility for sales, marketing and finance, and that engineering was handled by the firm's team in Wolfsberg. "I'm not an engineer," he said several times.
'Substantial damage'
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin told the MPs on the committee that the scandal would cause VW "very substantial damage".
He said a move to on-the-road testing of vehicle emissions - as opposed to laboratory testing - would render any defeat devices useless: "We have been right to press for real-world testing ... and we will see changes across Europe on that front."
Asked whether any other car makers had used similar software to evade emissions regulations, Mr McLoughlin said he was satisfied they had not on the basis of their responses. However, some had yet to answer his queries, he added.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of industry body the SMMT, said it was too soon to say whether the reputation of the wider automotive sector would be affected by revelation of VW's emissions cheating.