CLOSE to 1.2 million Volkswagen vehicles in the UK are fitted with illegal software which cheats emissions tests, it emerged yesterday.
Incredibly, this is one in ten of all diesel cars on Britain’s roads – or one half of VW diesels in the UK.
The German car maker yesterday finally released details of the British cars caught up in the scandal – 10 days after admitting it was at fault.
Of the 1,189,906 cars in Britain affected, 508,276 are VW branded.
There are also 393,450 Audis, 76,773 Seats, 131,569 Skoda and 79,838 commercial vehicles, mainly vans, caught up in the scandal.
Volkswagen UK said it would contact customers in the coming days to tell them if they are affected – and to give them details of how to get their vehicles “corrected”.
Diesel cars with EA 189 engines fitted from around 2009 to this year are potentially affected.
The company added: “In the meantime, all vehicles are technically safe and roadworthy.”
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told the company’s bosses to resolve the issue quickly.
He said: “The Government’s priority is to protect the public and I understand VW are contacting all UK customers affected.
“I have made clear to the managing director this needs to happen as soon as possible.
“The Government expects VW to set out quickly the next steps it will take to correct the problem and support owners of these vehicles already purchased in the UK.”
It also emerged yesterday Brit owners of Volkswagen diesels have had the value of their cars hit by the emissions scandal.
Figures from car trader bible Glass’s show Volkswagen diesels have dropped in value by 0.2 per cent in the last month.
At the same time average diesel car prices have gone up 2.8 per cent, meaning VW models are trailing the market by 3 per cent.
If a car is worth around £10,000, this is the equivalent of a £300 drop in value, on the back of the bad publicity.
Glass’s Guide is the British motor trades guide to used car prices. It releases average figures on a monthly basis.
Only figures for the whole of September are available. If figures were available for just the last 10 days since the scandal broke, the falls are likely to be greater.
Rupert Pontin, Glass’s head of valuations, warned future prices of VW cars will depend on how the company deals with the fallout.
He said: “In our opinion, we may yet see further value changes as VW releases more information.
“The way in which they do this, and the manner in which they support their dealer network and customers, will heavily impact on overall perception of the brand.
“We are aware that a number of key trade buyers are viewing Volkswagen conservatively for the time being.”
British drivers could now claim compensation over the scandal.
Richard Lloyd, exec director of consumer group Which?, said: “We now need the Government to urgently set out a timetable for action so that consumers can get redress.
“We also want the rest of the car industry to swiftly set out whether their tests have been manipulated and if their customers have been misled.”
Overnight, Olaf Lies, the economy minister of Lower Saxony and a VW board member, said staff had acted “criminally”. He said they “must take personal responsibility”.
It also emerged yesterday 984,064 cars in France are affected by the scandal, mainly VWs, but also Skodas and Seats.