China probes Volkswagen for emissions standards compliance

[BEIJING] China's environmental protection ministry said it is investigating whether Volkswagen AG's imported and locally produced vehicles are in compliance with its emissions standards, joining the US, Europe and Japan in probing the German carmaker after its emissions-rigging scandal.

None of the 11 million diesel-engine vehicles that don't meet standards are produced in China, the ministry said in a statement published in its official newspaper. About 1,900 of the vehicles have been imported, according to the statement. The ministry ordered Volkswagen to submit timely reports about its compliance.

Volkswagen, which counts China as its largest market by sales volume, said it will recall 1,950 imported diesel vehicles to correct the software. No vehicles sold by its two joint ventures with China FAW Group Corp. and SAIC Motor Corp. are affected, Volkswagen said in an e-mailed statement.

"Volkswagen would like to sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to our customers," the company said in its statement. "We would like to assure that we will do everything humanly possible to win back trust and take care of any concerns.

BLOOMBERG