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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/15/vw-scandal-german-authorities-reject-voluntary-recall
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| VW to recall 8.5m diesel cars across Europe | VW to recall 8.5m diesel cars across Europe |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Volkswagen is to recall 8.5m diesel cars across the European Union in the wake of the emissions scandal. | Volkswagen is to recall 8.5m diesel cars across the European Union in the wake of the emissions scandal. |
| The full extent of the work required by the manufacturer to deal with the defeat devices in its diesel vehicles became apparent on Thursday after German authorities rejected its proposals for a voluntary scheme. | The full extent of the work required by the manufacturer to deal with the defeat devices in its diesel vehicles became apparent on Thursday after German authorities rejected its proposals for a voluntary scheme. |
| Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority ordered a compulsory recall of all the affected 2.4m Volkswagen cars in the country, triggering the EU-wide move by VW across 28 member states. | Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority ordered a compulsory recall of all the affected 2.4m Volkswagen cars in the country, triggering the EU-wide move by VW across 28 member states. |
| Related: VW customers demand answers and compensation over emissions scandal | Related: VW customers demand answers and compensation over emissions scandal |
| It means that all 1.2m vehicles affected by the scandal in the UK will also be formally recalled. | It means that all 1.2m vehicles affected by the scandal in the UK will also be formally recalled. |
| Volkswagen said it welcomed the German decision, which would “give customers clarity with regard to the continued unrestricted use of the vehicles”. | Volkswagen said it welcomed the German decision, which would “give customers clarity with regard to the continued unrestricted use of the vehicles”. |
| However, VW had proposed a voluntary recall of the cars, which would have meant that motorists only took their car in for repairs if they wanted to remove the defeat device. VW has told motorists their cars remain legal to drive on the basis that they passed emissions tests, even if this was only due to the defeat device. | However, VW had proposed a voluntary recall of the cars, which would have meant that motorists only took their car in for repairs if they wanted to remove the defeat device. VW has told motorists their cars remain legal to drive on the basis that they passed emissions tests, even if this was only due to the defeat device. |
| VW has admitted that 11m diesel cars worldwide have been fitted with a defeat device that manipulated emissions tests. The company has put aside €6.5bn (£4.8bn) to meet the costs of recalling the cars but also faces the threat of fines and legal action from shareholders and customers. | VW has admitted that 11m diesel cars worldwide have been fitted with a defeat device that manipulated emissions tests. The company has put aside €6.5bn (£4.8bn) to meet the costs of recalling the cars but also faces the threat of fines and legal action from shareholders and customers. |
| Meanwhile, US regulators say they have more questions for VW, triggered by the company’s recent disclosure of additional suspect engineering of 2016 diesel models that potentially would help exhaust systems run cleaner during official tests. | Meanwhile, US regulators say they have more questions for VW, triggered by the company’s recent disclosure of additional suspect engineering of 2016 diesel models that potentially would help exhaust systems run cleaner during official tests. |
| The carmaker has said that a recall of the affected vehicles should begin early in 2016 but may not be completed by the end of the year. Some of the vehicles can be repaired through software changes, but others will need new parts, such as fuel injectors, to be installed. | The carmaker has said that a recall of the affected vehicles should begin early in 2016 but may not be completed by the end of the year. Some of the vehicles can be repaired through software changes, but others will need new parts, such as fuel injectors, to be installed. |
| The German authorities need to approve VW’s recall plan before it can begin repairing vehicles across the world. | The German authorities need to approve VW’s recall plan before it can begin repairing vehicles across the world. |
| Alexander Dobrindt, the German transport minister, confirmed there would be a compulsory recall. He said: “VW is ordered to remove the software from all vehicles and to take appropriate measures to ensure that the emissions rules are fulfilled.” | |
| Related: Volkswagen UK boss promises to do the right thing over emissions rigging scandal | Related: Volkswagen UK boss promises to do the right thing over emissions rigging scandal |
| Dobrinbt claimed that co-operation between VW and the authorities had been “extraordinarily good”. | Dobrinbt claimed that co-operation between VW and the authorities had been “extraordinarily good”. |
| However, he also warned that the hardware changes required to fix some of the cars may not be ready until September 2016. | However, he also warned that the hardware changes required to fix some of the cars may not be ready until September 2016. |
| Law firms representing British consumers stepped up the pressure on VW in the country, after the UK boss of Volkswagen, Paul Willis, again appeared in front of MPs promising to “do the right thing”. | |
| Leigh Day, which said it was now representing more than 4,000 potential plaintiffs, said that Willis’s reassurances “do not begin to address the many concerns that our clients have in relation to their vehicles”. | |
| Slater and Gordon, another firm which said it had been approached by more than 3,000 car owners, has written again to VW warning that the carmaker’s response to owners’ concerns were “woefully inadequate”. | |
| Meanwhile, Italian authorities have raided the country’s Volkswagen HQ as part of a local investigation into the emissions-rigging scandal. Police in Verona searched offices of Volkswagen Italia and confirmed that officials were under investigation. | |
| The new chief executive of Volkswagen has remained upbeat, telling managers at Leipzig in a speech that the manufacturer can bounce back from the scandal. Matthias Müller said it would need to devolve more power to its brands and regional operations, declaring: “We have a good chance of shining again in two to three years.” |