Audi, Volkswagen to conduct voluntary recalls in Australia

Australian minister says number of cars affected by 'diesel gate' scam is higher than the two firms had earlier announced

Audi and Volkswagen Australia agreed to conduct voluntary recalls for vehicles fitted with emission-defeat devices, Minister for Territories and Major Projects Paul Fletcher said on Friday.

Fletcher said the decision came as a result of the discussions between the two companies and the Australian government, Xinhua news agency reported.

Fletcher said this was "an appropriate step" and the Australian government expected Audi and Volkswagen Australia to keep it informed as the process continued.

He said the number of vehicles affected is higher than the two companies had previously publicly announced.

Previous reports said there are about 90,000 vehicles in Australia which are affected by the "diesel gate" scandal.

"Audi and Volkswagen need to ensure that numbers are finalised and all affected consumers are notified as soon as possible," Fletcher said.

"The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is investigating whether VW and Audi exposed consumers to false, misleading or deceptive representations."

The presence of emission-defeat devices may be a breach of the Australian Design Rules under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.

The Australian Design Rules are also covered by Australian Consumer Law (ACL) as mandatory safety standards.