Germany’s Transport Ministry stated on Sunday there was no recent news in a Bild am Sonntag report that Volkswagen engineers informed investigators certain petrol engines in Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche automobiles can be used to manipulate emissions tests.
The ministry informed to Reuters that the newspaper report pertained to accusations that the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) had already examined.
There have been sign so far of any fraud focusing VW petrol-fueled cars, the statement included.
Previously, a spokesman for Volkswagen – the parent company of Audi and Porsche – stated the automaker would not comment on an ongoing investigation, and that the company in recent times had held intensive talks with the KBA.
“There are no new circumstances here,” he stated.
The Munich and Braunschweig prosecutors offices that are involved in investigations into VW group brands could not be reached for discussion.
Bild stated gearboxes and software could be manipulated so that automobiles show lower levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel consumption, mentioning internal documents and witness statements.
Volkswagen’s emissions scandal has cost the automaker 27 billion euros ($31.3 billion) in charges and fines for manipulation of diesel-powered vehicles to mask excessive pollution levels.
In Europe, vehicles are taxed as per their levels of polluting CO2 emissions.
Volkswagen in 2015 stated that around 36,000 petrol-fueled vehicles were also being tested for excessive emissions.
