VW suspends diesel sales in Canada amid emissions scandal
Volkswagen Canada has suspended sales of its diesel-powered passenger cars as an emissions scandal plays out south of the border.
The move comes after news broke that the automaker had allegedly rigged emissions tests for almost half-a-million diesel vehicles in the United States.
Sales of cars powered by Volkswagen's 2.0-litre TDI engine, including the Jetta, Golf, Golf Sportwagon, Beetle and Passat, will be suspended indefinitely while the investigation unfolds.
Volkswagen Canada's decision to halt sales comes after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brought forward claims that the brand used a device during official emissions testing that turned on the vehicles' full emissions control systems.
The controls were then allegedly turned off during normal driving.
The EPA has ordered Volkswagen to recall nearly 500,000 cars in the U.S. to fix them.
Reports claim the automaker could face billions of dollars in fines or worse.
Volkswagen AG's chief executive released a statement apologizing for the controversy.
"I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public," Dr. Martin Winterkorn said in the statement. "We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case.
"Volkswagen has ordered an external investigation of this matter."
