FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- Volkswagen Group has stopped the sale within the European Union of new cars that contain software that can cheat diesel emissions tests, a spokesman for the automaker said on Wednesday.
The move affects a limited number of diesel cars with Euro 5 engines (EA 189) held at dealerships that will now be upgraded and then put up for sale, the spokesman added.
Automotive News Europe’s sister publication Automobilwoche earlier reported the sales stoppage, citing a Berlin dealer, Burkhard Weller, who confirmed that the automaker had contacted dealers to halt sales of some diesel cars.
“All the affected vehicles will be refitted along with customers’ cars and then offered for sale after we get the all clear from authorities,” VW told Automobilwoche, adding that the automaker would look after every single customer and was talking to those who could not receive their cars due to the sales stop.
Volkswagen said last week it would recall 8.5 million vehicles in the European Union which could contain banned software that allows them to know when they are being tested and temporarily reduces emissions.
Earlier this month, VW Group's Italian dealers were asked to stop selling VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat diesel cars equipped with engine software implicated in the diesel emissions cheating scandal.
Automotive News Europe contributed to this report
