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Audi, top-of-the-range automaker of Volkswagen, has said that 2.1 million of its cars across the world are fitted with sophisticated emission-cheating software so as to cheat emission tests. According to a spokesman of Audi, around 577,000 vehicles in Germany and 13,000 in the United States were affected.

As whole the number in Western Europe was 1.42 million. And the concerned models include the A1, A3, A4, A6, Q3, Q5 besides the TT.

Global outrage was sparked by Volkswagen previous week when it admitted that so-called defeat devices were equipped to around 11 million diesel cars. The sophisticated software works by activating pollution controls during tests while covertly turning off as the car goes on the road.

German media reports revealed that, the warnings from the staff and a supplier were ignored by Volkswagen years back that it was illegal to use the emission test rigging software.

Meanwhile, German authorities created pressure demanding on how it will ensure the compliance of diesel cars with emission standards without the use of deceptive technology. It set out a timeline by 7 October 2015.

-Sumana