Volkswagen News: Complicated Fix & Gift Cards For Owners

BERLIN (AP) – Germany’s Transport Ministry says automaker Volkswagen will likely need to make more than just software changes to nearly a quarter of its 2.4 million diesel cars being recalled in the country.

The ministry told The Associated Press in an email Monday that of the vehicles being recalled for fixes in Germany, the Federal Motor Transport Authority "currently expects that approximately 540,000 will also need hardware changes." It says Volkswagen will inform owners of the details.

U.S. officials say Volkswagen programmed diesel engines on 482,000 cars to disable emission controls when the vehicles were not being tested. Some 11 million vehicles are fitted with the software worldwide.

The company is recalling 8.5 million 2009-2015 model year cars with the software across Europe, starting next year, including the 2.4 million in Germany.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

DETROIT (AP) – A dealer familiar with Volkswagen’s plans says the automaker intends to offer $1,000 in gift cards and vouchers to owners of smaller diesel cars.

The offers would be a gesture of goodwill to owners with 2-liter four-cylinder diesel engines that have been implicated in an emissions cheating scandal. The offers could be announced Monday.

The dealer says owners would get a $500 Visa debit card to spend on anything they wish and a $500 voucher for oil changes, service or merchandise from dealers. The dealer didn’t want to be identified because details of the program haven’t been announced.

VW has admitted that about 482,000 diesels from the 2009 to 2015 model years have software that turns on pollution controls during government tests and shuts them off on the road.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)