BERLIN — A German probe into the emissions readings of leading carmakers also uncovered anomalies at French giant Renault, a German government source told AFP on Friday (April 22).

Around 630,000 Audi, Mercedes, Opel, Porsche and Volkswagen cars are being recalled in Europe owing to irregularities in their emission of pollutants, following an investigation launched in the wake of the Volkswagen engine-rigging scandal.

But inconsistencies were also found in Renault's engines. And as a French company, Renault did not come under the jurisdiction of the German transport authority, the source said.

The German makers have decided to recall the vehicles as a voluntary measure after a probe has been carried out into the emissions values of all models on the roads in Germany in recent months, the results of which the transport ministry was scheduled to present later on Friday.

The source said that the German companies have been told to make changes to devices which switch off systems to remove harmful nitric oxide from cars' exhaust under specific temperatures.

The systems for cleaning pollutants are switched off at low temperatures to protect motors or prevent a possible accident, as is allowed by EU regulations.

But it was not clear whether some makers used this regulation to bend the rules. AFP