VW Defeat Device: 1.2 MILLION UK VW, SEAT, Audi & Skoda cars affected

1.2 MILLION UK VW, SEAT, Audi & Skoda cars affected

Volkswagen has revealed that 1.2 million cars in the UK have the defeat device to scam emissions, with models from VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda affected.

We’ve had the overall numbers from Volkswagen of the number of VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda models that have the ‘Defeat Device’ to scam emissions testing – some 11 million cars worldwide – and now we know there are 1.2 million of those in the UK.

Volkswagen has revealed the UK numbers this morning, and it’s a significant number by any standards, and VW say they are in the process of giving VIN numbers to retailers so work can start on contacting owners about the ‘fix’ for the software.

The actual numbers – by brand – for the UK affected cars are:

Volkswagen 508,276
Audi 393,450
Seat 76,773
Skoda 131,569
VW commercial vehicles 79,838

But it seems likely that all VW will do for now is write to owners of the affected cars to reassure them that they can continue driving, and promise to update them with a fix.

How long will it take to fix the VW Defeat Device Cars?

That’s a question we’re sure no one – Volkswagen included – can give an answer to.

But to give it some perspective, the 11 million or so cars VW admit to (and, as far as we can tell, the 11 million is just the number for cars with the device active. How many more have it dormant?) is actually more cars than the whole VW Group make in a year.

Assuming this is going to be a technical fix rather than a software flash (VW tried to to a software flash recall in the States when they thought they were being rumbled, but that would only hide the defeat device, not make the cars compliant) then any system would need parts to be manufactured, tested and VW will have to work out how to fit it to the wide range of cars affected.

It could take years.