Audi Says 2.1 million cars affected by VW emissions issue USA TODAY

Jane Onyanga-Omara and Nathan Bomey

As German prosecutors launched an investigation into former Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn following the company's admission that it cheated U.S. emissions standards, on Monday, Volkswagen AG’s upmarket Audi brand said that 2.1 million of its vehicles are among those with their engines affected. 

German prosecutors opened an investigation Monday into former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. Winterkorn resigned last week following the eruption of a scandal involving the automaker's use of deceptive software to fool regulators into believing diesel cars were compliant with emissions laws.

The company has admitted to rigging 11 million cars with the software, which hid the fact that the vehicles are emitting harmful pollutants at rates of up to 40 times U.S. standards. Volkswagen is now facing a cascade of government investigations and consumer lawsuits over the scandal.

On Monday, Volkswagen AG’s upmarket Audi brand said 2.1 million of its vehicles are among those with the engines affected by the emissions-rigging scandal. Audi said that the engine in question was built into 1.6-liter and 2-liter turbo diesel models in the A1, A3, A4, A6, TT, Q3 and Q5 ranges, German news agency DPA reported. The cars involved have engines in the “euro 5” emissions category; those with the newer “euro 6” engines aren’t affected by the emissions scandal.

Volkswagen confirmed Friday that its Porsche brand chief, Matthias Mueller, will become its next CEO.

Contributing: Associated Press