Germany’s Transport Ministry stated on Monday it would order approximately 100,000 Opel vehicles to be recalled as part of an emissions investigation, after prosecutors checked the automaker’s offices previously in the day.
German motor vehicle authority KBA discovered four software programs capable of changing vehicle emissions in 2015, and ordered Opel to use a software update in cars to remove them, Germany’s Transport Ministry stated.
“After a fifth software device was discovered in early 2018, which KBA found to be illegal, there is presently an official hearing going on with the goal of imposing a mandatory recall for the models Cascada, Insignia and Zafira,” the ministry stated.
The transport ministry stated Opel had dragged its feet on the hearing. The KBA had informed Frankfurt prosecutors about the software device in April, it informed.
“The official recall of the affected approximately 100,000 vehicles will take place shortly,” it included.
Opel stated it rejected any accusation of using illegal defeat devices that can manipulate exhaust emission tests, also rejecting it was procrastinating.
“Should (a mandatory recall) be ordered, Opel will challenge it legally,” stated the automaker .
German prosecutors investigated offices at Opel’s sites in Ruesselsheim and Kaiserslautern previously on Monday.
The Frankfurt prosecutor’s office stated it was investigating 95,000 vehicles geared up with Euro 6d engines.
PSA Group, which owns the Opel and Vauxhall brands, refused to comment.
