Apparently, the Dieselgate scandal is far from over as German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag reported that the Californian Air Resources Board (CARB) has discovered another illegal software function that lowered their carbon-dioxide emissions in Audi vehicles with automatic transmissions.
The device, which was not the same as the one behind last year’s diesel-emissions scandal, was used in diesel and petrol-powered cars sold not just in the US but also in Europe as well.
The paper stated that if the steering wheel did not turn, it ‘detected’ laboratory testing condition and activated a gear shifting program that produces less carbon dioxide. If, however, the steering wheel was turned by more than 15 degrees, it reverted the change pattern back to normal.
The automaker reportedly stopped using the software in May 2016, just before CARB discovered the manipulated software inside the car, and many engineers related to the issue have since been suspended.
When contacted by Bild am Sonntag, both CARB and Audi officials declined to comment, citing ongoing talks with U.S. and California regulators on a proposed fix for cars with 3.0-litre engines.
Source: Bild am Sonntag via Carscoop