More 2009 models from Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen use ‘cheating software’: EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Friday that Volkswagen used cheating software on more vehicles to trick pollution tests.

The German company allegedly used the software on more six-cylinder diesel vehicles than originally believed. According to Volkswagen’s statement to the California Air Resources Board and the EPA, the software is used on around 85,000 Audi, Porsche and VW 2009 models with 3-liter engines.

Audi spokesman Brad Stertz acknowledged on Friday that the German automaker never intimated the EPA about the software. Stertz said the company wanted to reprogram the software "so that the regulators see it, understand it and approve it and feel comfortable with the way it's performing," AP reported.

The use of the "defeat device" is a violation of the Clean Air Act. Earlier in October, German police raided VW headquarters as a part of an investigation into the cheating software scandal “to secure documents and data carriers that, in view of possible offences, can provide information about the exact conduct of company employees and their identities in the manipulation of exhaust emissions of diesel vehicles.”

Earlier in November, the regulators blamed the VW for installing the cheating software on around 10,000 vehicles of 2014-2016 model. VW submitted a proposal on Thursday to fix the issue and said the company was cooperating with the investigation.

To solve the software issue, owners are likely to be asked to bring their cars to dealers for fixes. On the other hand, U.S. regulators are likely to impose stricter scrutiny and higher fines on VW.

However, regulators keep telling owners that their cars are safe to drive even though those may violate EPA standards on nitrogen oxide emission.

"The most unfortunate aspect of this whole situation for Volkswagen is they have to start the healing process and the repairing process for their brand, and you can't do that while the scandal is still growing," USA Today quoted analyst Karl Brauer as saying. "You have to feel like you've fully identified — or maybe the better word is disclosed … all aspects of your scandal before you can move forward."

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