According to a report by Reuters, emissions cheating software is reported to have been found in Audi A7 and A8 models. According to the German Transport Ministry, the software halves the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions until the steering wheel is turned over 15 degrees.
The German Transport Ministry has given the carmaker a total of 10 days to come up with a solution, and include a plan to get the cars re-fitted. The carmaker recently announced a recall for the 24,000 cars that have been affected on Thursday. The A7 and A8 models built between 2009 and 2013 are the ones affected, and around 14,000 of these were sold in Germany itself.
Audi has released the following statement, "The latest analyses of A7 and A8 automobiles of model years 2010 through 2013, with V6 and V8 engines certified according to the EU5 emission standard, have revealed that, in certain situations, NOx emissions are between 20 percent and 100 percent above the limit.
The reason is that in some situations, engine speed is unfavourably influenced by the transmission software, which can have a negative impact on the engine’s emissions. A recall is likely to start in July 2017. As only a software update will be installed, the time required for the work on the cars will be about 30 minutes.
Audi will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities and the Federal Motor Transport Authority. It apologises to its customers for the inconvenience and is doing everything to ensure that the anomalies it has discovered will be corrected as soon as possible."
The Volkswagen Group has shifted its focus to low and zero-emissions cars since the scandal broke out. Audi recently announced plans to launch three new electric models within the next year as well.