Volkswagen to start recalls in France in February

VW was forced to admit it had installed emission-cheating software into 11 million diesel engine vehicles worldwide. (AFP/Paul J. Richards)

PARIS: German auto giant Volkswagen, still reeling from its massive pollution cheating scandal, will begin recalling some 940,000 vehicles in France in February, VW Group France President Jacques Rivoal said on Sunday (Dec 13).

Rivoal said in an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche that the recall will "begin February 2016", and that each customer with one of the affected diesel engine vehicles will receive "three letters" to detail the process.

"One was sent in November, the next, in January, will specify technical measures, and the last one will invite clients to contact their car dealership," he said.

The company said last month that it had "decided to undertake after-sales action on EA189 diesel engines in order to carry out a software correction" on the affected vehicles.

VW was forced in September to admit it had installed emission-cheating software into 11 million diesel engine vehicles worldwide. In addition to the VW marque, the group makes 11 other brands, including Porsche, Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Lamborghini.

Rivoal said that VW already established an online platform and phone number to help customers. "600,000 clients have come forward, and 150,000 of them are identified as owners of an affected vehicle."

The VW executive said that the software update will take "a half hour to an hour depending on the model", and that clients would receive a courtesy car, a safety check and a car wash.

Rivoal said the group will take on extra staff to handle the recalls and that dealerships will be able to stay open past regular hours. "I want to reaffirm, the safety and quality of the vehicles are not in question," Rivoal said.

Volkswagen said on Friday that worldwide sales of all of its 12 different brands were down 2.2 per cent in November.

The costs facing VW, once seen as the paragon of German industry, are still incalculable, in terms of reputation and global earnings and because it faces billions in possible fines and legal costs.