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Audi halts production of latest A6 model over ‘new emissions cheating’: report

German luxury brand Audi has stopped production of its latest A6 model over suspicions it contains software to manipulate emissions controls, local media reported on Tuesday, as the "dieselgate" scandal continues to dog parent company Volkswagen.

Audi halts production of latest A6 model over 'new emissions cheating': report
The new Audi A6 was unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show in March. Photo: DPA

Confirming a report in news weekly Der Spiegel, Germany's transport ministry told AFP it was investigating the use of a new “illegal defeat device” in some 60,000 Audi cars, half of which are driving on German roads.

According to Spiegel, the current A6 model is equipped with software that deliberately slows down the use of a special pollution-cleaning fluid in the final 2,400 kilometres of its life span, to avoid drivers having to refill the so-called AdBlue liquid in between regular service updates.

But reducing the AdBlue function also drastically lowers its effectiveness in neutralizing the engine's harmful nitrogen oxides, making the diesel cars far more polluting during that time.

“An official recall for at least the affected Audi cars registered on German roads is highly likely,” Spiegel wrote, without citing its sources.

“Production of the model has been halted in the meantime,” it added.

Germany's transport ministry said its KBA vehicles licensing had opened a probe into suspicions that Audi equipped some 60,000 “A6/A7 models” with a cheating device, “around 33,000 of them in Germany”.

Audi said it would release a statement on the matter later on Tuesday.

It's not the first time the German car industry has been accused of AdBlue tampering, with Daimler and Volkswagen both facing the threat of mass recalls over similar accusations in February.

The alleged AdBlue scam differs from the one that sparked Volkswagen's “dieselgate” crisis in 2015, when the auto giant admitted to installing software in some 11 million diesels worldwide that could detect when a vehicle was undergoing pollution tests and reduce emissions accordingly.

Outside the lab however, the cars were vastly more polluting, spewing up to 40 times more toxic gases than legally allowed.

The scandal, which affected VW's own brand cars but also those made by Audi, Porsche, Skoda and Seat, has so far cost the group more than €25 billion in buybacks, fines and compensation, and it remains mired in legal woes at home and abroad.

SEE ALSO: Former VW boss Winterkorn indicted in US over 'dieselgate' scandal

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GREENPEACE

Two hospitalized in Munich after activist crashes parachute into Euro 2020 stadium

At least two people were hospitalised Tuesday after a Greenpeace activist crash-landed on the pitch before the Germany-France match at Euro 2020 when his powered parachute microlight struck spidercam cables at Munich's Allianz Arena.

Two hospitalized in Munich after activist crashes parachute into Euro 2020 stadium
The activist lands on the turf of the Allianz Arena. credit: dpa | Christian Charisius

The pilot flew over the pitch just before kick-off in the Group F clash with “Kick out oil” written on the canopy of his parachute.

However, when the pilot hit television cables above the pitch, it knocked his microlight off balance and he landed on the turf after clipping one of the stands, where the casualties happened.

The activist was arrested soon after landing.

A Munich police spokesman told AFP that at least two people suffered head injuries and “both had to be taken to hospital, we don’t know yet how serious the injuries are”.

The police spokesman said the activist appears to have escaped injury, but “we are considering various criminal charges. Munich police has zero understanding for political actions that put lives at risk”.

UEFA also slammed the botched stunt.

“This inconsiderate act – which could have had very serious consequences for a huge number of people attending – caused injuries to several people attending the game who are now in hospital and law authorities will take the necessary action,” European football’s governing body said in a statement.

The parachutist above the stadium. Photo: dpa | Matthias Balk

“The staging of the match was fortunately not impacted by such a reckless and dangerous action, but several people were injured nonetheless.”

The stunt was a protest against German car manufacturer Volkswagen, one of the sponsors of the European Championship, Greenpeace explained in a Twitter post.

“UEFA and its partners are fully committed to a sustainable Euro 2020 tournament and many initiatives have been implemented to offset carbon emissions,” said UEFA.

Greenpeace said they regretted any harm caused.

“This protest was never intended to disrupt the game or hurt people,” read a Twitter post on Greenpeace’s official German account.

“We hope that everyone is OK and that no one was seriously injured. Greenpeace actions are always peaceful and non-violent.”

“Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan.”

READ MORE: Climate activists rage as Germany opts for drawn-out coal exit

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