Audi A3 nitrogen oxide emissions may exceed European standards by double

According to Reuters, in laboratory tests conducted by the European Commission, Audi A3 diesel cars have excessive levels of toxic substances in their emissions, again raising questions about Volkswagen Group's luxury car brands. The test results deepen Audi's involvement in the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal.

The test was organized by the European Commission's Joint Research Center and started in August this year. The test results showed that the new Audi A3 diesel version, which claims to meet the Euro VI standard, emitted 163 mg of nitrogen oxides per kilometer, more than twice the 80 mg standard.

Other laboratory tests showed that when the engine temperature was 10 degrees Celsius, the Audi A3's nitrogen oxide emissions were 140 mg per kilometer, but when the car was running under cold start conditions, nitrogen oxide emissions dropped to below 80 mg. Bas Eikhout, a lawmaker for the European Parliament's Volkswagen investigation, said, "It is difficult to explain the difference between cold start and hot start."

A European Commission spokesman said the Joint Research Center's tests were still in their early stages and "if the test results again suggest wrongdoing, such as the installation of illegal equipment in the vehicle, the test results will be sent to the relevant review and approval authorities." EU regulators formulate policies based on information from the Joint Research Center, but EU member states are responsible for setting policies for their respective automotive markets.

Audi said it had not received any information from the Joint Research Center, and was not sure which engine type the European Commission experts tested, so it refused to comment in detail. Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) also declined to comment on the matter.

Currently, Volkswagen is negotiating with the US government on the repurchase or repair of 80,000 Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen 3.0-liter vehicles. Therefore, the revelation that Audi may have violated the European standard has a "worse" effect on Volkswagen.

In Europe, where Volkswagen has not admitted to using the illegal software, automakers in the European Union say exemptions to EU law allow them to shut down emissions control systems if necessary.

Audi A3's global sales have surpassed A4 and A6 this year, ranking at the top of the brand's sales chart. Audi pointed out that the Audi A3's emissions strictly comply with European standards and gave a separate test result for a 2.0-liter TDI EU6 model.

Since the seven member states did not punish Volkswagen for its illegal software, the EU began to take legal action against the seven countries last month. Last month, Audi was also investigated by relevant departments because some gasoline models were suspected of being equipped with software to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Volkswagen has so far set aside 18.2 billion euros ($19.4 billion) for its biggest scandal in history.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.