VW dealerships can start fixing vehicles with cheat devices
Finally, Volkswagen has received government approval on a remedy for its 2.0-liter diesel vehicles equipped with emissions-cheating software.
The fix, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, involves both hardware and software changes. VW can begin notifying customers when to come to the dealership and receive the necessary repairs for free.
“VW will remove the defeat device software that reduced emission control effectiveness in all but emissions testing circumstances, and replace it with software that directs the emission controls to function effectively in all typical vehicle operations,” the EPA said in a statement. The automaker will also replace the NOx catalyst and, for 2009 vehicles, certain other hardware on the emissions-control system.
The fix affects around 326,000 diesel vehicles with 2.0-liter engines with either automatic or manual transmissions. It covers model years 2009 to 2014 for the diesel Jetta, Golf, Beetle, and Audi A3 vehicles.
“This important milestone means that an approved emissions modification is now available for more than 98 percent of eligible 2.0L TDI vehicles in the United States,” VW said in a statement.
To achieve EPA approval, VW submitted data proving that the modification will cut emissions without affecting the reliability or durability of the vehicles in question. Customers can still choose to sell their vehicles back to VW instead of opting for the fix.
It has been a long road to this point. As you might recall, regulators rejected Volkswagen’s previous proposals regarding an emissions fix. The diesel scandal first came to light in September 2015, when the EPA slapped the automaker with a notice of violation of the Clean Air Act.
Source: Volkswagen, EPA