VW gets approval to modify 38,000 diesel SUVs as 'Dieselgate' continues

By Stephen Edelstein Published October 29, 2017

It may no longer dominate the headlines, but Volkswagen is still cleaning up the mess from the “Dieselgate” emissions scandal. The company just received approval from U.S. regulators to modify about 38,000 diesel SUVs equipped with 3.0-liter V6 engines so that they no longer produce illegal levels of emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board sent a letter to VW Friday, October 20, approving the modifications, reports Reuters. The fix applies to diesel versions of the Volkswagen Touareg, Audi Q7, and Porsche Cayenne SUVs from model years 2013 to 2016, all of which are equipped with the second-generation version of VW’s 3.0-liter TDI V6 engine. Older models are not included.

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The Reuters report said some models will require only a software update, while others will require both hardware and software changes. But neither VW nor the regulators have specified what those hardware changes might be.

Under a settlement approved in May, Volkswagen agreed to buy back any 3.0-liter diesel vehicles it could not modify to meet emissions standards. About 75,000 vehicles are covered by the settlement, meaning VW could save money by not having to buy back the 38,000 that qualify for modifications. The automaker has already agreed to spend $25 billion on the diesel scandal in the U.S. so far.

The fate of older models equipped with the first-generation 3.0-liter TDI V6 remains unclear. If VW can’t devise suitable modifications for these vehicles, which span model years 2010 to 2012, it will have to buy them back from owners. Affected models include diesel versions of the Audi A6, A7, A8, and Q5, as well as older versions of the Audi Q7 and Volkswagen Touareg diesels.

The 3.0-liter diesels represent a fairly small contingent compared to the roughly 475,000 cheater diesels equipped with 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines. Those models are covered under a separate settlement approved last year. For the past several months, VW has been steadily buying them back from owners and depositing them in places like the derelict Silverdome football stadium in Pontiac, Michigan.

The majority of 2.0-liter diesel owners have taken buybacks rather than wait for modifications to be approved. After two years of uncertainty, 2013-2016 3.0-liter diesel owners now have to decide whether they want to keep their cars, or walk away.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

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Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.