Volkswagen US Sales Slump By 25% After Scandal

Volkswagen (Other OTC: VLKAF - news) 's US sales fell by a quarter last month as the German carmaker counted the cost of the emissions test cheating scandal.

The VW brand sold just under 24,000 vehicles compared with almost 32,000 a year ago.

The fall reflected the halt in sales of diesel cars that manipulated pollution tests, the company said.

Mark McNabb, chief operating officer for Volkswagen of America, said the company was "working tirelessly on an approved remedy" for affected vehicles.

"During this time we would like to thank our dealers and customers for their continued patience and loyalty," he added.

The US is a relatively small market for the company but worldwide sales are also down.

The VW brand sold 490,000 vehicles worldwide in October, 5% fewer than the year before.

Volkswagen has admitted that 482,000 two-litre diesel vehicles in the US contained cheat software that turn pollution controls on for government tests and off for real-world driving.

The US government says another 85,000 six-cylinder diesels also had cheat technology installed.

Volkswagen said in September that models made from 2009 to 2015 were hiding their true level of emissions from regulators.

An estimated 11 million diesel vehicles are affected, including 1.2 million in the UK.