Volkswagen still isn't prepared to begin a U.S. recall of diesel cars with illegal "defeat device" software, but it continues to try to mend its relationship with customers.
The company is now handing out a "goodwill" package of gift cards and free roadside assistance to owners of affected 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI models.
These are the 482,000 cars first implicated when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed VW's cheating at a press conference in late September.
DON'T MISS: Audi, Porsche, VW Diesel Stop-Sale Orders: More Cars Than EPA Named (Nov 2015)
But subsequent investigations found that an additional 85,000 vehicles equipped with a separate, 3.0-liter V-6 powertrain were also non-compliant.
VW has done less outreach to those diesel owners, but now it will apparently offer them a "goodwill" package too, according to Automotive News Europe (subscription required).
Volkswagen Group of America CEO Michael Horn confirmed the extension of the program to 3.0-liter vehicles on the sidelines of an event held prior to the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, but did not say when the expansion would take place.
![2014 Audi A7 TDI 2014 Audi A7 TDI](https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/2014-audi-a7-tdi_100430076_l.jpg)
2014 Audi A7 TDI
Participants will presumably get the same $500 gift card, $500 car redeemable at their VW dealership, and three years of free roadside assistance offered to owners of 2.0-liter TDI models.
Volkswagen has said customers do not give up any legal rights in accepting the package.
The EPA issued a compliant against the 3.0-liter V-6 TDI models in early November, claiming the 2014 Volkswagen Touareg TDI, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne Diesel, and five 2016 Audi models--the A6, A8, and A8L TDI sedans; the A7 TDI hatchback; and the Q5 TDI crossover--had illegal software.
ALSO SEE: VW Gives Owners Of 2009-2015 2.0-Liter Diesel Cars Debit Cards, Roadside Assistance (Nov 2015)
Volkswagen initially denied these claims, but eventually all three brands involved issued stop-sale orders for these models--and others.
In addition to the models named by the EPA, VW stopped sales of additional years of each model, including 2014-2016 versions of the A6, A7, A8, and Q5, 2013-2016 versions of the Touareg TDI, and 2014-2016 versions of the Cayenne Diesel.
It also added 2013-2016 Q7 TDI SUVs to the list.
![2015 Porsche Cayenne Diesel 2015 Porsche Cayenne Diesel](https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/porsche-cayenne_100473827_l.jpg)
2015 Porsche Cayenne Diesel
Audi and Porsche are expected to announce similar programs for their customers.
Meanwhile, there are still no plans for a recall.
MORE: Audi V-6 TDI Diesels May Require Only Simple Fixes: CEO (Dec 2015)
VW sent a proposal to U.S. regulators in November, but only for 2.0-liter models. Even that is still awaiting approval by the relevant agencies.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has said he believes the 3.0-liter models will only require software changes to gain compliance, and not hardware modifications.
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