German state prosecutors and regional police investigating the  "dieselgate scandal"  on Wednesday searched several premises associated with carmakers Porsche and Audi, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting a spokesperson for the Stuttgart State Prosecution Office.

The spokesperson said Stuttgart-based Porsche and Ingolstadt-based Audi are being investigated for alleged fraud, illicit advertising and cheating over diesel emissions.

Three Porsche employees, including one member of the management board, have been formally listed as suspects in the case brought by German judicial authorities.

In response to the incident on Wednesday, a Porsche spokesperson said investigators had examined and seized documents from corporate premises.

 

Porsche and Audi, both of which are subsidiaries of Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen Group, are being targeted in a joint investigation by state prosecutors in the "dieselgate" scandal.

The spokesperson said Porsche and Audi are giving full cooperation to the authorities.

About 30 state prosecutors and 160 officers have joined forces to investigate Porsche and Audi's suspected involvement in the installation of illegal software which understated nitrogen oxide (Nox) emission levels produced by diesel vehicles including Porsche's Cayenne SUVs.

Audi was responsible for delivering large six-cylinder diesel motors to Porsche used in the Cayenne.

The Stuttgart State Prosecution Office said Audi premises in Ingolstadt and in Neckarsulm were also searched but did not provide any additional information.

A spokesperson said the investigators were trying to find more evidence for the investigation.

Porsche has recalled the Macan SUVs following reports that diesel versions of the model emitted significantly more NOx than permissible under European Union (EU) clean air regulations.

The Ministry of Transport had ordered a formal ban on new registrations for the Cayenne with 3.0-litre diesel motors.

Porsche, Audi and parent corporation Volkswagen has paid out more than US$25 billion euros (US$31 billion) in settlements and fines as a result of "dieselgate"  since 2015 in the United States alone.

The Braunschweig State Prosecution Office is investigating senior Volkswagen managers on suspicion of market manipulation on behalf of the public listed car maker.

- Bernama