Volkswagen Up Against Deadline in Diesel-Emissions Scandal

HERNDON, Virginia – There is “no ETA on remedies” in the Volkswagen diesel-emissions scandal, a Volkswagen spokeswoman told Edmunds on Thursday, despite a Friday deadline to submit draft plans for fixes to the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

CARB and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must approve Volkswagen’s remedies before any recall can start.

“(We’re) meeting with CARB and EPA tomorrow but we don’t anticipate a big announcement to happen at that time,” wrote Jeannine Ginivan, a VW spokeswoman on Thursday in response to a query from Edmunds. “I believe it will more likely be statements about reviewing the proposals.”

The meetings are not open to the public.

VW must fix 482,000 2.0-liter diesel vehicles in the U.S. with illegal emission software. The vehicles do not comply with U.S. emissions standards.

The rigged diesel engines emit nitrogen oxide pollutants up to 40 times above what is allowed in the U.S. The vehicles have a so-called “defeat device” or software that can detect when they are being tested, changing the performance to boost results.

The German automaker has apologized to U.S. consumers for the deception.

Ginivan said about 120,000 customers have registered so far for the Volkswagen Goodwill Program, which gives eligible 2.0-liter TDI owners a $500 prepaid Visa card, $500 in dealership credit and three years of 24-hour roadside assistance. Audi of America launched a similar program for affected owners on November 13.

Edmunds says: The waiting game continues for disgruntled VW diesel owners, despite this deadline.