Environmental regulators in California on Wednesday
set a 45-day time limit for Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche to provide a
recall plan for vehicles powered by 3-litre diesel engines fitted
with suspect emissions software, according to dpa.
The action comes after Monday's admission by Audi, a VW subsidiary,
and 'manufacturer of all the engines involved, that the vehicles
contain three undisclosed auxiliary emissions control devices,'
according to a statement by the California Air Resources Board
(CARB).
One of the previously undisclosed pieces of software could be
considered under US law to be a 'defeat device' to undermine
emissions tests.
The model years affected range from 2009-2015, amounting to 15,000
vehicles in California and 85,000 in the entire US. They include the
Volkswagen Touareg, the Porsche Cayenne and a variety of Audi luxury
models.
Before Audi's admission on Monday, the emissions scandal had been
confined to 480,000 VW and Audi models in the US equipped with
2-litre diesel engines.
Wednesday's CARB order formally applies only to California. In
response to inquiries, though, the federal Environmental Protection
Agency said it works closely with CARB and that for all practical
purposes the same 3-litre engine recall plan deadline applies
nationally as well.