Volkswagen recall to start in January

Massive recall of Volkswagen vehicles to begin in January.

According to reports, Volkswagen expects to start a recall of cars affected by its emissions scandal in January.

The car giant's new chief executive, Matthias Mueller said that all affected cars will be fixed by the end of 2016 and that only a few employees have been involved in the scandal.

The company admitted that emissions test-cheating software is present in 11 million diesel vehicles.

Earlier, Mueller told employees at VW's Wolfsburg home plant in Germany the firm is facing changes that "will not be painless."

He said that all investments that were not deemed absolutely necessary would be abandoned or delayed but that technical solutions were "within view" and that the firm would do everything it could to keep jobs secure.

The BBC adds that the firm will also look into its various brands and models, singling out Bugatti, its supercar brand and that future investment in plant, technology and vehicles would be put "under scrutiny".

"We will do everything to ensure that Volkswagen will stand for good and secure jobs in the future," he added.

The emissions scandal has affected various countries, including the UK where some 1.2 million vehicles could be affected. France, Italy and Malta have opened investigations and called for vigilance in imports.

The move will involve vehicles across the VW group including the VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands.

VW said it was a temporary measure and that it intended to return the vehicles for sale once a fix is identified for the cars.

Despite the scandal that began almost two weeks ago, VW customers could still buy vehicles that had the rogue software.