Image: APA/AFP/dpa/INA FASSBENDER
In 2015, the diesel scandal about manipulated exhaust gas values at German car manufacturers came to light. A number of court cases have been pending since then – also in Austria.
In this country, the affair could be bigger than previously known. As the Vienna Chamber of Labor found out in a study, it could affect 1.6 million cars. So far, 537,000 diesel cars from VW, Mercedes, BMW and Opel have been recalled either voluntarily or compulsorily because of illegal defeat devices. In addition, there are 253,000 cars from VW and Renault whose exhaust gas cleaning is to be optimized through voluntary service campaigns. In addition to these almost 800,000 cars, there could be as many more.
This is because so-called thermal windows are installed in all of these cars registered between 2010 and 2018, according to the AK. As a result, exhaust gas cleaning only works at certain temperatures. And according to the European and Supreme Court, such thermal windows are inadmissible if the exhaust gas cleaning does not work properly for most of the year.
As soon as a judgment by the Schleswig Administrative Court, according to which updates are also defective, becomes final, car owners are threatened with the withdrawal of their operating license, according to the AK.
As the general importer of VW, Porsche Holding announced that it was not yet able to say anything about the study. Due to the scope, the results had to be checked first, it said on request.
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