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Audi
on Thursday recalled around 24,000 older A7 and A8 models in
Europe, 14,000 of which were sold in Germany, to update
transmission software, which it said was causing nitrogen oxide
(NOx) emissions to exceed EU limits.
Munich prosecutors have been investigating Audi on suspicion of
fraud and criminal advertising in the United States where parent
Volkswagen's <VOWG_p.DE> emissions scandal broke in September
2015. They have expanded the inquiry to include vehicle sales in
the brand's home region, a spokesman for prosecutors said.
Audi said late on Thursday that it would continue to fully
cooperate with authorities and Germany's KBA motor vehicle
authority, which the carmaker had notified about the latest
emissions irregularities.
The affected Audi models with so-called Euro-5 emission
standards, and built between 2009 and 2013, emit about twice the
legal NOx limits when the steering wheel is turned more than 15
degrees, the German transport ministry said.
Prosecutors said the suspicion in the Audi investigation still
centered on fraud, adding they have not yet received updated
information from the KBA on the situation in Germany.
Their investigation came to a head in March when prosecutors
searched Audi's headquarters in Ingolstadt in connection with
the emissions scandal, as well as a second German plant and
subsequently even the law firm that VW had hired to clear up
dieselgate.
(Reporting by Joern Poltz.; Writing by Andreas Cremer; Editing
by Maria Sheahan and Susan Fenton)
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