Probe Into Volkswagen’s ‘Software Cheat’ For Diesel Engines Expands To 11 Million Cars

Things just keep getting worse for Volkswagen, but it only has itself to blame for its newfound troubles. We’ve already told you about the emissions scandal that the German automaker is currently embroiled in, but it looks as though the number of affected vehicles is way more than the 482,000 that were sold in the United States between 2008 and 2015.

Volkswagen has confirmed that the software cheat that it used to game the EPA’s emissions tests with its Type EA 189 diesel engines was actually used worldwide. As a result, the United States’ EPA is the least of Volkswagen’s troubles at this point. In total, over 11 million vehicles have this software installed which makes passing emissions test a breeze, but allow the vehicle to spew out high levels of nitrous oxides when driven normally on public roads.

“A noticeable deviation between bench test results and actual road use was established solely for this type of engine,” said Volkswagen in a statement. “Volkswagen is working intensely to eliminate these deviations through technical measures.”

VW CEO Martin Winterkorn

Volkswagen says that it will work “intensely to eliminate these deviations through technical measures,” which we would assume would mean additional hardware to help affected vehicles pass emissions tests without cheating. The German automaker attempted to address the issue in December 2014 solely through a software update, but that failed to bring emissions for affected TDI vehicles down to acceptable levels.

Volkswagen says that it is setting aside an incredible 6.5 billion EUR, or $7.3 billion, to correct the emissions gaffe. As a result, the company will take a huge hit in its third quarter earnings. And if that wasn’t enough, the company’s stock is down by nearly a third since news of the violations for broke late last week.

And to add more salt to its wounds, there is also word that there will be further investigations into the 3.0-liter TDI engine used in the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne.

When it rains, it pours. To hear more about the emissions scandal straight from the horse’s mouth, check out this video statement from Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn.