GOI to Investigate All Diesel Vehicles for Violation of Emission Norms

While currently 4 carmakers in India are being investigated, Mr Geete elaborated, "Over the next six months, we will carry out checks on emission levels of all diesel passenger vehicles in India."

Ambuj Sharma, Additional Secretary in the Heavy Industries Ministry told PTI, "From the end of this month, we will start testing all passenger diesel vehicles in India to estimate whether they have committed emission violations. The process of testing diesel passenger vehicles by ARAI will be completed in six months."

Volkswagen Group India, that presented its observations, findings and outlines of possible solutions on the EA 189 diesel engines to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI, will recall cars including those from Volkswagen, Audi, and Skoda.

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The carmaker will first present the required solution to Ministry of Heavy Industries and ARAI and upon receiving approval from the competent authorities, the respective brands of the Volkswagen Group in India will inform owners of the respective vehicles. One must nore, VW claims the existing installed software does not affect the vehicles' handling, technical safety or road-worthiness.

VW's EA 189 engine, fitted with the 'defeat device', could lead to excess nitrogen oxide emissions.

The Volkswagen recall affects cars manufactured from 2008 till end of November 2015 and include 198,500 cars from Volkswagen, 88,700 cars from Skoda, and 36,500 cars from Audi. The EA 189 engines with the 'cheating software' comprise 1.2-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre, and 2.0-litre diesel engines.

(With inputs from PTI)