Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche diesel models hit with Swiss registration ban

FEDERO, the Federal Roads Office in Switzerland, will stop some diesel Audi A6/A7, Mercedes-Benz Vito, Porsche Macan and Porsche Cayenne models fitted with 'defeat devices' from being registered.

A release from the body said any vehicles imported after tomorrow won't be road register-able until they have the 'defeat device' removed, while vehicles already in the country will need to be tweaked to meet emissions standards. The registration stop comes into force on August 17.

Affected cars include the Mercedes-Benz Vito 1.6-litre turbo-diesel, Porsche Macan 3.0-litre turbo-diesel and Porsche Cayenne 4.2-litre turbo-diesel. Automotive News reports just 24 Mercedes vans are hit by the order, after Daimler stopped exporting the model in May.

The news comes after the Audi A6 and A7 (previous-generation) 3.0-litre turbo-diesel was hit with a similar order on August 10. Once again, new cars with the engine won't be register-able, while existing cars will need to be retro-fitted to meet emissions rules.

Given the current-generation (C8) A6 and A7 aren't included in the order, it's unlikely many new cars are caught up in the order.

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