Skoda

Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda are recalling a total of more than 80,000 cars with DSG dual clutch automatic gearboxes because some are slipping into “limp home” mode and can’t be restarted without the help of a mechanic armed with diagnostics equipment. The latest DSG recall – yet to be announced on the Federal Government’s recall website – includes about 62,000 Volkswagens, 14,000 Audis and 4500 Skodas.

German prosecutors from Braunschweig have filed charges against three current and former Volkswagen executives for failing to warn investors early enough about the financial implications of the Dieselgate emissions cheating scheme. The three men charged are the Volkswagen Group's current CEO Herbert Diess, its current chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch, and Martin Winterkorn, the company's CEO at the time the scandal broke.

Volkswagen Australia has reached a settlement with plaintiffs representing Australian consumers affected by the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal. The settlement was reached on a 'no-admission' basis with plaintiffs representing five lawsuits against the company in Australia.

Ferdinand Piech, the man who shaped the modern Volkswagen Group during his tenure as CEO and chairman, has died. In a statement to the press his wife, Ursula Piech, confirmed the former Volkswagen boss died "suddenly and unexpectedly" on Sunday, European time. According to Bild and Handelsblatt, Piech and his wife were dining at a restaurant in Bavaria when he collapsed. He was rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Skoda Karoq is still on track to get a long-promised second variant in Australia with all-wheel drive, though the local arm is still working out what it will be powered by. Speaking with CarAdvice, Skoda Australia's general manager for corporate communications, Paul Pottinger, indicated the Czech brand's local division hopes to make an announcement 'soon', though it's unsure at this stage whether it'll be petrol or diesel.