Selected 2016 model year Polos affected by Volkswagen CO2 emissions issue
While the ‘dieselgate’ controversy has faded from the daily headlines, Volkswagen has faced another emissions issue in recent days. On 3 November, Volkswagen released a statement which claimed it had now found ‘irregularities’ in some of its 2016 model year cars’ CO2 emission levels, which it discovered itself while investigating vehicles for type approval.
430,046 blacklisted vehicles
On 13 November, the company announced which vehicles are affected by the latest emissions issue, and, as with the diesel irregularities, selected Polo models are included in the 430,046 blacklisted cars.
2016 model year Polos fitted with 1.4-litre TDI engines with 74, 89 and 103bhp outputs are affected by the CO2 irregularity issue, as well as those which are powered by the new 1.0-litre TSI petrol unit, including, ironically, the latest BlueMotion models.
Initially, 800,000 Volkswagen Group cars were thought to be affected by the ‘implausible’ CO2 figures, so the company must be breathing a slight sigh of relief that the confirmed figure is lower. However, if vehicles from previous years are investigated, the number of affected cars could nudge that initial figure. VW has disclosed its findings to the ‘relevant authorities’.
Vehicles’ safety not affected
A new round of CO2 figures will be monitored and determined under the supervision of the German Federal Vehicle and Transport Authority (KBA). As with the diesel controversy, Volkswagen websites will carry vehicle identification number (VIN) checkers to enable easy recognition of affected cars.
With many European countries deciding vehicle tax bands on CO2 emissions, hundreds of thousands of drivers may have been charged the incorrect tax. The Volkswagen Group has declared that it, and not the customer, will pay for any discrepancies arising from this latest disclosure. An initial estimate puts the economic risks at approximately two billion euros.
‘Do its utmost to rebuild trust’
Once again, and not for the first time in recent weeks, Volkswagen has stated that ‘the latest findings must be an incentive for the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management to do their utmost to resolve such irregularities and rebuild trust’. That trust appears to need building at an increasingly alarming rate.
