Audi’s tech head suspended over emission scandal

VW diesel engine

Still no clear horizon in sight for the Volkswagen Group with regards to the emissions scandal that has severely rocked it. Reuters, citing German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, reports that Audi’s head of technical development, Stefan Knirsch, has been suspended as part of an investigation into cheat software being used in the brand’s 3.0 litre diesel.

The German publication said investigations carried out by Jones Day have shown that Knirsch, an Audi board member, was aware of the usage of cheat software in the company’s 3.0 litre diesel engines and had given a false promise under oath. The report added that Knirsch has already been asked to clear his desk.

Knirsch, who was formerly head of engine development at Audi, succeeded Ulrich Hackenberg on January 1. Hackenberg quit after he and two other executives, who were closely associated with the development of the EA 189 engine, were suspended. Spokesmen for Volkswagen Group and Audi declined to comment on the matter.

Last month, Bild am Sonntag had reported that more emissions defeat devices had been found in the 3.0 litre diesel engine. The additional, unapproved software allows the turbodiesel to shut down emissions control systems after approximately 22 minutes in operation. Official emissions measurements last about 20 minutes.

The 3.0 litre turbodiesel V6 engine as affected by the defeat devices is used in models such as the Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Audi A6 quattro, A7 quattro, A8 and Q5.

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Anthony Lim

Anthony Lim believes that nothing is better than a good smoke and a car with character, with good handling aspects being top of the prize heap. Having spent more than a decade and a half with an English tabloid daily never being able to grasp the meaning of brevity or being succinct, he wags his tail furiously at the idea of waffling - in greater detail - about cars and all their intrinsic peculiarities here.

 

Comments

  • Is time to buy one pre-owned 3.0TDI

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • passion on Sep 20, 2016 at 10:20 am

    never ending woes to this company of cheaters.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • AutoFrenz (the original) on Sep 20, 2016 at 11:19 am

    Like this, the Proton heads should all be sacked for the company to have lost few billion ringgit the past 2 years.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Return of Kunta on Sep 20, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Ha ha ha. Audi article but show engine of VW car. This shows both companies are so interrelated and are one in nature.

    Soon, when the Audi A4 starts to breakdown, you will understand it is either because Audi is using VW DSG or the VW parts in the Audi is failing.

    Pity the Cayenne owners. Pay so much of money but told that their Cayenne is using cheat engines.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • inb4 head joins poton

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • donno on Sep 20, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    That guy is just a scapegoat while those who benefitted financially got scott-free

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • inb4 he join poton

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

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