The software of the control units which Volkswagen has used to rig emissions data in the United States it would also be used in Europe. This was revealed by the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, which cites sources within the same automotive group.
If the news were confirmed, the Dieselgate scandal would spread like wildfire, causing further damage to Volkswagen. We recall that at the moment, at European level, 8 million cars are involved fitted with the Ea 189 engine, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre Euro 5 approved and belonging to the various brands of the group.
Until today, the automaker had admitted that the device aimed at altering the emissions data turned on automatically only in the USA, but not in Europe.
"We are working hard on technical solutions" - said a VW spokesman - "For this reason, all the questions asked now are speculative".
At the same time, the German investigators have started a series of searches in the Wolfsburg headquarters and in various factories located throughout the territory, as well as in the homes of some employees for the purpose of finding new evidence, but also to prevent it from being compromised.
The Braunschweig prosecutor's office made it known, "The objective of the searches is to safeguard documents and computer media" which, according to the prosecutor's office, could bring to light who the names of the employees involved and the way in which the manipulations were implemented .
