HAMBURG -- Volkswagen is halting deliveries of its latest Golf compact hatchback after a software problem was found in some vehicles. The software enables emergency calls, a function required by EU regulations since 2018.
VW said it will decide in the next few days how to deal with affected cars, such as a recall and software update, the automaker said on Friday.
Volkswagen Group's Skoda brand said it had also stopped deliveries of the new Octavia, which shares the Golf's MQB Evo platform and OCU3 online connectivity unit.
"We are taking the same measures as Volkswagen brand," a Skoda spokesman told Automobilwoche, a sister publication of Automotive News Europe.
Audi is also checking its A3 and Seat its Leon, the brands told Automobilwoche. Both cars have the same architecture as the Golf.
VW started sales of the new Golf in Europe this year following delays caused by the car's advanced digital features, including over the air (OTA) software updates.
To keep the Golf attractive as more customers switch to crossovers or premium hatchbacks, VW gave the eighth- generation model a fully digital cockpit with features such as permanent connectivity. But the advanced technology caused technical bugs, leading to a delayed launch.
VW told Der Spiegel that the glitch was noticed during routine quality assurance checks.
The company cannot currently say how many vehicles are affected by the problem, the magazine said. It is expected that a software update will be available between June 15 and June 21.
VW is continuing to build the Golf at its Wolfsburg plant, Der Spiegel said. The finished cars will be stored until the update, it said.
The Golf is the top-selling car in Europe with a volume of 410,779 last year, down 8 percent, according to JATO Dynamics market researchers.
Reuters contributed to this report
