Volkswagen emissions cheating opens to 85,000 more vehicles

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Volkswagen officials acknowledged Friday emissions control violations include its three-liter V-6 diesel vehicles, widening the automaker's cheating scandal to some 85,000 Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches.

The Environmental Protection Agency and California regulators said all 2009 through 2016 Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles with three-liter diesel engines contain so-called "defeat device" software that enables the vehicles to skirt emissions requirements in North America and Europe.

"Based on this information, EPA and [the California Environmental Protection Agency] will continue to investigate and take all appropriate action under their respective authorities," authorities said.

Volkswagen admitted in September a number of its diesel-fueled vehicles are equipped with the software that emits lower volumes of nitrogen oxides during emissions testing than during regular driving. The company faces up a $37,500 Clear Air Act fine for each faulty vehicle in the United States and is responsible for repairing the problem.

The company is proposing to recalibrate the faulty software and resubmit it for approval.