The Volkswagen Group recently announced a recall of 3,23,700 cars in India in the wake of the emissions scandal, but has revealed the cars may not be fitted with the software.
Following meetings with the Government of India and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), VW has described the voluntary recall as a means to keep the EA 189 engines "in line with the latest technical updates" announced for the European market, and says it believes that its cars are "not equipped with a 'defeat device'”.
VW added that evaluations carried out under the observation of ARAI revealed that the VW, Skoda and Audi cars which have been recalled are not violating the Bharat Stage IV emissions norms. Further meetings with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways are due to take place.
The device in question, found in the cars from the VW Group in the US and Europe, detects when a car is undergoing emissions testing then alters the performance to achieve better results.
The EA 189 engine at the centre of the scandal was found to emit up to 40 times above the normal amount of nitrogen oxide in the US, and the manufacturer has admitted that 11 million diesel cars worldwide are fitted with the device.
If you think you may be affected in India, here's what you should know:
How can I find out if my car is affected?
Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi cars sold between 2008 and November 2015 fitted with EA 189 1.2-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines are affected. In total, 1,98,500 Volkswagens, 88,700 Skodas and 36,500 Audis have been recalled in India. If your car is affected, the company has said you will be contacted through the respective brands with regards to the technical changes required for your car.
How will it be fixed?
VW has confirmed that the fix will be similar to the treatment of cars affected in Europe. This means that the 2.0-litre engines will get a software update, while the 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre engines will be fitted with a ‘flow transformer’ in front of the air mass sensor and also receive a software update.
The course of action for the affected 1.2-litre engines will be announced shortly.
How long will my car be away for?
The update required for the 2.0-litre engine will take up to 30 minutes, according to VW, while the 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre engines could take up to one hour. The fixes are due to be implemented during the first quarter of 2016.
Will the car be different?
After implementing these technical measures, VW says its goal is to ensure that fuel consumption figures and performance data remain the same. The existing software does not affect the handling, technical safety or the road-worthiness of the car.
Will it cost me anything?
VW has ensured that the changes will be made at no cost to the customers.
DOUG REVOLTA