Volkswagen Probe Reveals 5Mln Passenger Cars Fitted With Rigged Software

Around 5 million Volkswagen passenger cars have been fitted with rigged software allowing them to downplay their true emissions results, the company said in a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Its internal evaluation uncovered that around five million Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand vehicles worldwide operate with the cheating software, the statement issued late Friday asserted. Volkswagen’s diesel cars were found to be emitting up to 20 times more greenhouse gases than they reported.

Herbert Diess, CEO of the brand said the company was “working at full speed” to offer a solution to partners, customers and the public.

“Our aim is to inform our customers as quickly as possible, so that their vehicles comply fully with regulations,” Diess said, vying to restore the company’s trustworthiness.

The carmaker pledged to inform all global markets how many Volkswagen vehicles were affected locally.

On Tuesday, several days after US regulators accused the manufacturer of gaming the emissions tests and ordering it to recall up to half a million cars, Volkswagen estimated 11 million of its vehicles had the rigged of diesel engine.

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt estimated some 2.8 million of the carmaker’s diesel cars are fitted with the software in Germany alone.

Matthias Mueller, former Porsche division CEO, officially replaced Martin Winterkorn as Volkswagen chief executive on Friday.