Why Volkswagen is struggling with new emissions tests

Carmaker facing production stoppages as
stricter standards cause problems

One-Minute Read

The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure
(WLTP), mandatory for all new
cars from 1 September, will make it harder
for car manufacturers to pass exhaust emissions tests. It
replaces the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) system.

Speaking at a VW meeting in Wolfsburg yesterday, company chief
Herbert Diess said that production will halt at the plant in the
German city on set days in August and September, Reuters reports. 

In order to meet the tougher emissions requirements,
changes will be made to more than 200 models during the downtime at
the factory, which employs around 64,000 people, the news site
says.

Following the announcement, VW’s development head, Frank Welsch,
told Autocar that the German car giant needs “more
time” and “more people” to prepare for the changes. 

“By 1 September, everything needs to be fixed, done and
certified. That’s all of our portfolio, and our portfolio is
big,” he said. “We’re not prepared for new certification
for all of our cars in one year.”

The issues are not exclusive to VW. Motor1 reports that the group’s
sports car brand Porsche has also announced plans to temporarily
suspend production later this year in order to adapt for the WLTP
tests. 

The VW suspensions come in the wake of the emissions cheating scandal that has engulfed
the company since 2015. 

The company’s former chief, Martin Winterkorn, was charged last
month with “conspiring to mislead regulators” by US prosecutors in
Detroit, the BBC reports.