What VW’s emissions scandal means for its SA customers

This comes after its German parent, Volkswagen AG, last month admitted that it cheated on emissions tests in the US. Bloomberg reported on September 20 that it fitted “ ‘defeat device’ software into a half-million of its diesel cars from 2009 to 2015 that automatically cheated on US air-pollution tests”.

This resulted in the resignation of its CEO Martin Winterkorn and its share price has taken a pounding.

“There has been extensive international media coverage relating to irregularities in Nitrogen oxide emission values measured during‎ dynamometer regarding the emission standard Euro 5 of Volkswagen diesel vehicles fitted with the type EA189 Euro 5 engines.

“In South Africa the compliance standard is EU 2. All Volkswagen Group diesel vehicles of the type EA 189 retailed in South Africa, that is, Volkswagen passenger, Audi, Light and Medium Commercial Vehicles comply with this standard for Nitrogen oxide emissions,” Matt Gennrich, general manager: communications said in a statement.

VWSA also confirmed that the bench mode in the software does not negatively affect the CO₂ values.

“Our vehicles accordingly comply with the published CO₂ values,” he said.

The vehicles are technically safe and roadworthy, Gennrich added.

VWSA apologised to customers for any uncertainty that may have been caused by the international revelations and said its vehicles meet all the legal requirements in terms of which the National Regulator approved the sale for use in South Africa.

“There is therefore no action required on either the part of the customer or our dealers.”

VWSA announced in August that it would invest more than R4.5 billion in order to produce at least two new models at its Uitenhage plant in the Eastern Cape, taking its production capacity from around 116 000 vehicles per annum to more than 150 000 by 2017.