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VW scandal: 1.8 million commercial vehicles affected

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2015 file photo, company logos of the German car manufacturer Volkswagen sit in a box at a scrap yard in Berlin, Germany. Who knew about the deception, when did they know it and who directed it? Those are among questions that state and federal investigators want answered as they plunge into the emissions scandal at Volkswagen that has cost the chief executive his job, caused stock prices to plummet and could result in billions of dollars in fines. Legal experts say the German automaker is likely to face significant legal problems, including potential criminal charges. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File) FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2015 file photo, company logos of the German car manufacturer Volkswagen sit in a box at a scrap yard in Berlin, Germany. Who knew about the deception, when did they know it and who directed it? Those are among questions that state and federal investigators want answered as they plunge into the emissions scandal at Volkswagen that has cost the chief executive his job, caused stock prices to plummet and could result in billions of dollars in fines. Legal experts say the German automaker is likely to face significant legal problems, including potential criminal charges. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)

By Associated Press September 29, 2015 1 min read

BERLIN (AP) – Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles division says 1.8 million of its vehicles are among those affected by the emissions-rigging scandal.

Volkswagen AG has admitted using a piece of engine software to cheat on diesel car emissions tests in the U.S. It said last week the engines concerned are in some 11 million vehicles worldwide, far more than the 482,000 originally identified by U.S. authorities.

Details have emerged gradually of how many were made by which VW division. On Tuesday, Guenther Scherelis, a spokesman for the commercial vehicles unit – which makes vans and pickups – confirmed a report in the daily Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung that 1.8 million of its vehicles were affected. He didn’t give further details.

Also affected are 5 million VW brand cars, 2.1 million Audis and 1.2 million Skodas.