An Audi Australia spokesperson has confirmed the Volkswagen Group emissions test recognition software is in Australian Audis featuring the EA189 diesel engine.

“However it is our understanding that the software is inactive in all vehicles with the EA189 engine,” said Audi Australia general manager of corporate communications, Anna Burgdorf, when referring to Australian delivered cars.

The two EA189 engines – the 1.6 TDI and 2.0 TDI – are found in some A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, TT, Q3 and Q5 Audi models, but Ms Burgdorf said Audi Australia didn’t yet know the full effect of the software on Australian vehicles.

“Audi Australia is working as quickly as we can, together with our head office, to analyse the potential effect on Australian vehicles and inform the government of our investigations to date,” she said. “We hope to provide that information in the next few days.

“Our customers are our highest priority at this time, and we will be contacting them directly once we have an accurate list of the affected vehicles. At that time we will confirm our next steps to remove the software from customer vehicles.”

Ms Burgdorf said extra staff had been drafted in to its customer service centre to speak to Audi owners who may have concerns and questions. The number is 1300 557 405.

The announcement follows Volkswagen – the parent company to Audi, Skoda and Seat – admitting 11 million vehicles in its group with the EA189 diesel engine are equipped with the cheat software device which falsifies emissions output tests.

Source Caboolture News