Several VW engineers admit to installing cheat device: report

BERLIN - Several engineers at scandal-hit German automaker Volkswagen have admitted to installing the device in the company's cars aimed at cheating pollution tests, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Bild am Sonntag said the employees told an internal investigation that they had been involved in the affair, which came to light last month.

"Several engineers stated that they installed the deception software in 2008," the newspaper said.

Bild did not reveal their identities or say how many had made the admission.

But it said their statements had so far failed to unmask those who masterminded the scam.

The engineers said the EA 189 engine, developed by VW in 2005, could not have complied with pollution caps and cost targets without the deception.

Volkswagen has admitted that up to 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide are fitted with the so-called defeat device.

The gadget detects when the car is undergoing testing and switches the engine to a low-emissions mode.

It then switches off this mode when the car is on the road. Under real conditions, the car spews out far higher emissions than is permitted.

The global scam has wiped more than 40 percent off Volkswagen's market capitalization and led chief executive Martin Winterkorn to resign.

VW, a champion of German industry, has vowed to get to the bottom of the scandal with a probe led by a team of US lawyers.

source: interaksyon.com

Nissan to recall 910,000 cars worldwide over accelerator issue

TOKYO — Japanese auto giant Nissan said Thursday it would recall about 910,000 cars worldwide over an accelerator glitch that can stall vehicle engines.

The global recall cover five models, including the Serena minivan and X-Trail SUV, produced between October 2004 and June this year, it said.

About 765,000 cars will be recalled in Japan, with about 100,000 units of its luxury Infiniti M sedan being called back in North America.

Another 24,000 vehicles in Oceania and others in Europe, the Middle East and Asia were also being recalled, a company spokesman said.

The recall comes after more than 1,400 complaints from customers, mostly in Japan.

No accidents tied to the accelerator glitch have been reported, the spokesman said.

If drivers step on the accelerator pedal at an angle, sensors measuring pressure exerted on the pedal can malfunction, causing an engine stall, Nissan said.

Japanese automakers, including Nissan rivals Toyota and Honda, have recalled millions of vehicles in recent years, dealing a blow to their reputation for safety and quality.

source: interaksyon.com