Volkswagen New Zealand says 4,639 of its vehicles in this country have been fitted with diesel engines that cheat emissions tests.
Volkswagen admits 11 million of its cars have being rigged. Photo: AFP
Globally, 11 million Volkswagen cars and more than two million Audis have been identified as carrying software that manipulates the emissions controls in their engines.
Volkswagen has stopped selling some of its models in New Zealand after finding out they were affected by the software.
It says the number of diesel vehicles affected is about six percent of the 75,000 Volkswagens in this country.
The company is in the process of contacting affected customers and informing them of the next steps.
Its New Zealand general manager Tom Ruddenklau said he had now received information showing which makes and models were involved.
He said VW New Zealand had stopped the sale of 21 Tiguans, and 15 Caddy vans that had the engine fitted.
Mr Ruddenklau said the whole situation pained him.
"There's been some dishonesty and it doesn't really matter how you try and explain that away, that's just not acceptable and it's gutting and it's just not acceptable."
Mr Ruddenklau said he hoped to start identifying, and contacting, affected New Zealand customers by the end of the week.