Volkswagen admits that Spanish cars are affected in emissions scandal

THE Volkswagen company has finally admitted that some cars produced in Spain were fitted with the ‘doctored’ emission-test device.

They have apologised to Spanish customers for “abusing their trust” and have promised “to assume all responsibilities and costs for the measures it will take” to fix any possible tampered diesel engines fitted in vehicles produced by all of its brands: Audi, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen.

Unfortunately, Volkswagen also said in a statement that it does not yet know which models may have been affected by the altered engines but it could include the 1.6 and 2.0 litre diesel engines in the Audi A3, Seat León and Ibiza, Skoda Octavia, Volkswagen Golf and Polo.

“All of the affected vehicles are absolutely safe and suitable for driving. The irregularities detected are related exclusively to pollutant emissions.” the company said.

Reports in the German press suggest that this matter had been highlighted in 2011 when an engineer had warned of the problem whilst Bild am Sonntag said an internal inquiry had found that parts supplier Bosch had warned Volkswagen not to use its software illegally.

To add to Volkswagen’s woes, the BBC has reported that the European Central Bank has been buying debt products from big companies, including VW, as part of its scheme to boost the Eurozone economy but following the admission by the carmaker that it cheated emissions tests, the ECB is reviewing its purchase of debt from VW.

This could, in turn, affect the ability of the group to offer favourable terms to purchasers of their new cars, thus restricting their income flow even more.