The move was announced after Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) rejected VW’s voluntary recall in the country, instead ordering a compulsory recall.

In response, Volkswagen said the decision “gives customers clarity with regard to the continued unrestricted use of the vehicles”.

The carmaker clarified again that the recall only applies to the EA 189 engines and that the current generation of EA 288 diesel engines is not affected. In addition, all of the vehicles affected remain technically safe and roadworthy.

Volkswagen added that outside the EU28, each individual country will clarify in detail which emissions classes of the EA 189 engine are in fact affected.

All Volkswagen customers can visit the German website www.volkswagen.de/info and enter the chassis number of their vehicle to find out straight away whether they are affected. Similar customer websites are active in the other EU countries and for the Audi, SEAT and Skoda brands.

The announcement follows the news that Volkswagen is also using software in its 2016 models that could potentially help it pass US emissions tests, according to the Associated Press.

As a result, thousands of 2016 Beetles, Golfs and Jettas will remain quarantined in US ports until a fix can be developed, approved and implemented. In addition, diesel versions of the Passat sedan manufactured at the company’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, have also been put on hold.