中國高度重視大衆尾氣造假醜聞

China has launched an investigation into Volkswagen as the diesel emissions scandal engulfing the German carmaker reached the world’s biggest car market.

籠罩在大衆汽車(Volkswagen)頭上的柴油車尾氣造假醜聞蔓延至中國這個全球最大的汽車市場，中國有關部門已對這家德國汽車製造商展開調查。

The environmental protection ministry said on Monday that it was “highly concerned” about the issue. However, it added that an initial investigation revealed that only 1,900 imported VW cars included the so-called defeat devices designed to fool emissions tests.

中國環保部週一表示，對這一事件高度重視。但該部又表示，初步調查結果顯示，中國只有1900餘輛進口大衆汽車搭載了旨在欺騙尾氣檢測的所謂“減效裝置”(defeat device)。

It said VW’s locally produced vehicles, which account for the bulk of its sales in the carmaker’s biggest single market, were not affected.

中國環保部稱，大衆在華生產的汽車沒有受到影響。中國是大衆最大的市場，中國市場銷售的汽車中有很大一部分是大衆品牌的汽車。

VW said on Monday that it was recalling 1,950 imported diesel vehicles in China in order to “correct the engine software”.

大衆週一表示，將在中國市場召回1950輛進口柴油車，以“修正發動機控制軟件”。

“After the internal evaluation Volkswagen is now working full speed on a technical solution,” it said, adding that “all vehicles are technically safe and roadworthy”.

該公司稱：“內部評估完成後，大衆汽車目前正在全力開發相應的技術解決方案。”它還表示：“所有車輛在技術上均安全可靠，完全適合上路行駛。”

The German car company is in the midst of a global recall of 11m cars that were fitted with illegal software to cheat emissions tests by regulators.

這家德國汽車製造商正在全球召回1100萬輛安裝了非法軟件欺騙監管機構尾氣排放檢測的汽車。

While diesel is widely used in China to power trucks, the vast majority of cars sold in the country run on petrol.

儘管中國的卡車普遍使用柴油發動機，但在中國市場銷售的絕大部分乘用車是以汽油爲動力的。

John Zeng, an analyst with LMC Automotive in Shanghai, said he expected VW to “have some PR issues” but not much material impact given that its diesel sales in China are tiny.

上海LMC Automotive分析師曾志凌(John Zeng)表示，他預期大衆將“遭遇一些公關問題”，但鑑於它在中國銷售的柴油車數量很少，它不會受到太多實質性影響。

He added that VW would be cushioned from reputational blows because its production and sales are managed through joint ventures with SAIC and FAW, two state-owned vehicle companies.

曾志凌補充稱，大衆在華的生產和銷售是由其與兩家國有車企上汽(SAIC)和一汽(FAW)組建的合資企業管理的，因此其聲譽受到的衝擊會有所減輕。

VW on Monday said it wanted to “sincerely apologise” to its customers and would do “everything humanly possible to win back trust and take care of any concerns”, noting that “Volkswagen has been at home in China for more than 30 years”.

大衆週一表示，它對客戶“深表歉意”，“會盡一切努力重新獲得客戶的信任，並幫助消除他們的各種疑慮”，該公司還指出“大衆汽車根植中國市場三十餘年”。