Diesel scandal hamstrings VW as America's auto industry surges

Among the cars owned by the plaintiffs are the A4, the A5, the A6 2.0 TDI, the Q3 and the Q5 2.0 TDI equipped with EA 189 diesel engines, which are embroiled in the fake test scandal.

The scandal came to light last month when Volkswagen admitted it cheated on US emission tests by installing software to make them appear cleaner than they were. The EA288 engines replaced the EA189 engines which have plunged Volkswagen into the storm of a worldwide scam.

Volkswagen is preparing for a massive recall of affected vehicles, which it has to fix so they can meet environmental standards in the countries concerned.

Spokespeople were not immediately available to comment.

A company spokesman had earlier said that the carmaker was checking whether another engine, the EA288 were also equipped with the cheating device.

In addition to the costs of repairing so many vehicles, the once-respected automaker faces billions of euros in potential fines and legal costs, aside from the incalculable fallout from lost sales and diminished customer trust.

The company is now looking at cars with the EA 288 diesel engine and that same emissions standard, Volkswagen spokesman Pietro Zollino said.

VW said later that no vehicles sold in Europe with the EA288 motor, either the "Euro 5" or the "Euro 6" versions, had illegal software.

The new-model diesel vehicles in Europe will be refit with new software and emissions filtration systems then go back on sale, according to a report by Reuters and Automotive News.

A few Audi owners have joined Volkswagen users to sue the German automaker following the scandal, but it is the first time that Audi drivers have filed their own suit at home and overseas.

It forced out its long-time chief executive and rocked both the global auto industry and the German establishment.

It added on Wednesday that about 3 million of those would need hardware changes - a more costly upgrade than the software changes needed for the other affected vehicles.