More Problems Revealed on Volkswagen Cars

VOA News
3 November 2015 (3:51PM)

German automaker Volkswagen said that an internal investigation has found new problems which it termed “unexplained inconsistencies” in the carbon dioxide emissions on 800,000 more vehicles.

The company said in a statement Tuesday that it estimated the possible economic impact at over $2 billion to the firm.

Volkswagen did not identify the vehicles affected, but said the flaw does not compromise the safety of any of the vehicles.

The statement says the company will do the utmost “to clarify the further course of action as quickly as possible” and ensure the correct carbon dioxide classification for the vehicles affected.

Tuesday's admission of irregularities about carbon emissions is another setback for the company, and comes a day after U.S. authorities accused it of fitting defeat devices on its larger 3.0 liter diesel vehicles.

Volkswagen was plunged into the biggest crisis in its history in September with the revelation that 11 million of its vehicles had been fitted with devices that switched anti-pollution controls on during tests, but shut off the devices during normal driving.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said there were 500,000 problemed diesel Volkswagens in the U.S., which warranted fines up to $18 billion.

Some law firms in North America have filed class action suits. Countries in Europe, including Germany, have also filed law suits, in addition to ordering investigations into emission levels of Volkswagen cars.