Audi to update 850000 cars as diesel recalls widen

A significant recall effort is underway by Audi to update software in approximately 850,000 vehicles worldwide to address issues related to diesel emissions. This recall is part of a broader effort to address concerns over the company's diesel engines, which have been at the center of a controversy surrounding emissions cheating.

The recall affects certain Audi A4, A6, A7, A8, Q5, and Q7 models produced between 2009 and 2016, as well as certain Volkswagen and Porsche models that share the same engine. The affected vehicles are equipped with 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter diesel engines.

The software update is designed to improve the vehicles' emissions performance and reduce the risk of excessive nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The update will also improve the vehicles' fuel efficiency and reduce the risk of engine damage.

Audi has faced intense scrutiny over its diesel engines, which were found to have been equipped with software that could detect when the vehicle was being tested for emissions and adjust the engine's performance to meet stricter emissions standards. This practice, known as "defeat device," was discovered in 2015 and led to a global scandal that has had far-reaching consequences for the company.

The recall is part of a broader effort by Volkswagen Group, which owns Audi, to address the emissions scandal. The company has agreed to pay billions of dollars in fines and settlements to regulators and consumers, and has implemented a range of measures to improve its emissions testing and reporting practices.

The recall is expected to begin in the coming weeks and will be carried out at authorized Audi dealerships. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail and will be required to bring their vehicles in for the software update. The update is expected to take about an hour to complete and will be done at no cost to the vehicle owner.

It's worth noting that this recall is separate from a previous recall issued by Audi in 2019, which affected approximately 1.2 million vehicles worldwide. That recall was also related to diesel emissions and involved the installation of a software update to improve the vehicles' emissions performance.