The Volkswagen Group announced Monday that it has prepared and submitted for approval updated engine management software for its U.S. versions of the Audi 3.0-liter TDI diesel engines. The revised software alters the auxiliary emission control devices (AECD) — the so-called “defeat device” — and brings the vehicles into compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emissions laws.
The VW Group will install the rewritten software on all affected U.S. models once it is approved by the agencies. Audi estimates installing the new software could reach into the “mid-double-digit millions of euros.”
The changed software amends three defeat devices that control vehicle exhaust emissions systems Audi admits it did not previously disclose to the EPA.
This announcement comes just a few days after VW and Audi admitted the 3.0-liter diesel engines also violated tailpipe emission laws, emitting as much as nine times the legal limit.
It should be noted this software fix only affects the 3.0-liter diesel engines. The smaller 2.0-liter diesels engines that originally sparked dieselgate in September are not affected by this announcement. Unfortunately, those vehicles will likely need to be retrofitted with physical emissions control systems, rather than a software update.
Though it is not yet known for certain how the announced updates will affect the 3.0-liter diesel models that span from 2009 to 2015 across VW, Audi and Porsche, it’s likely the updated vehicles will suffer losses in both power and fuel economy in order to be emissions compliant.