11:03 am, October 7, 2015
VOLKSWAGEN’S vehicles affected by its emissions scandal will begin to be recalled in January, new CEO Matthias Muller said today.
All the cars will be fixed by the end of 2016, he told German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The Volkswagen boss admitted it would take two to three years for the company to mend its reputation, and the rebuild process will likely lead to a streamlining of its various sub-brands – including Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini and Bugatti.
An internal investigation will begin studying the group’s various brands and models as a means of singling out what is vital and what is not – using Bugatti as a particular example.
As a result, the highly anticipated Veyron successor and next-generation Phaeton could be put on hold.
This follows earlier news when Muller warned of ‘painful’ project funding cuts.
All investments that Volkswagen does not deem necessary will be abandoned or at the very least suspended, while any future investment in technology, plant and vehicles will be put ‘under scrutiny’.
Muller also stressed that only a few employees had been involved in the firm’s emissions cheating.
He was adamant that the company would do its upmost to keep employee jobs secure. ‘We will do everything to ensure that Volkswagen will stand for good and secure jobs in the future,’ he said.
MORE ON VW SCANDAL:
Muller warns of ‘painful’ cuts
Investigation widened to include other brands
Ford and BMW defend German car industry
UK owners won’t be hit with tax rise
Car supermarket slashes German vehicle prices
Thousands of vehicle sales are halted in UK
Almost 1.2 million vehicles affected in UK
Values ‘marginally affected’ by emissions
700,000 Seat cars fitted with emissions test ‘cheat’ software
Winterkorn facing probe by German prosecutors
Audi reveals more than 2m of its cars worldwide have ‘cheat’ software
Switzerland bans sale of diesel Volkswagens
Carmaker admits diesel scandal affects VW Group vehicles
Government was warned about emissions testing
Department for Transport launches emissions investigation
CAP predicts no impact on Volkswagen residual values
Skoda, Seat and Audi dealers braced for bad news
UK businesses hit by ripple effect
Biggest UK lawsuit could be on the cards
VW just tip of the iceberg amid claims tests are open to abuse
