VW emissions cheating scandal: Volkswagen says to refit software in 11 million cars

Volkswagen will refit the 11 million cars worldwide that have been affected by the emissions cheating scandal.

The move is the among the first taken by new chief executive Matthias Müller to address the worst crisis in the German auto giant's 78-year history.

He said that customers with diesel vehicles that were fitted with so-called defeat devices would be asked "in the next few days" to have software replaced.

Analysts have estimated the effort could cost more than $6.5 billion (£4.3 billion).

Volkswagen admitted over a week ago that it had rigged US emissions test using the software, which masked the true levels of nitrogen oxides during test drives.

Its boss Martin Winterkorn stepped down last week and German prosecutors have since said they are investigating him over allegations of fraud.

"We are facing a long trudge and a lot of hard work," Müller told a closed-door gathering of about 1,000 top managers at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters late on Monday.

"We will only be able to make progress in steps and there will be setbacks," he said, according to a text seen by Reuters.

Volkswagen did not say how the planned refit would make cars to comply with regulations, or how this might affect vehicles' mileage or efficiency.

Additional reporting by Reuters