FRANKFURT -- Audi has launched a recall for up to 850,000 diesel cars to update vehicle software controlling emissions in a bid to avoid potential driving bans.
The service is also being offered to Porsche and Volkswagen brand cars using the same six- and eight-cylinder engines, Audi said in a statement Friday.
The recall affects cars with six-cylinder and eight-cylinder Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel engines.
The German government and the auto industry have agreed on a diesel rescue plan to be presented early August, industry and political sources told Reuters earlier on Friday.
Diesel cars from all brands equipped with Euro 6 and Euro 5 engines will be get update software to reduce harmful emissions, the sources said, with the plan set to be presented at the beginning of August.
The costs will amount to under 2 billion ($2.33 billion) euros for cars in Germany, with the auto industry agreeing to shoulder the expense of about 100 euros per car, the sources said.
With the software updates, the auto industry is able to cut nitrogen oxide pollution by about 20 percent, the sources said. A committee to reduce pollution in communities will be set up.
Auto industry executives and German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt are due to discuss diesel pollution at a summit on Aug. 2.
Daimler said earlier this week that it is voluntarily recalling more than 3 million Mercedes-Benz diesel cars in Europe for an update that will reduce their NOx emissions.
