Lithuania launches probe amid Volkswagen emission scandal

Lithuania has launched an investigation on Volkswagen cars to examine how many cars in the country may have software designed to cheat emission tests, Lithuanian environment minister revealed on Friday.

Kestutis Treciokas, the minister of environment of Lithuania, told local media the country is to consider claim for possible environmental damaged from the company.

"We expect to find out objectively the damage for the nature and what could be our possible claims for Volkswagen," Treciokas was quoted as saying by business news website vz.lt.

He added the ministry will examine legal ways to impose sanctions on the company after the probe.

According to the minister, the probe was initiated even before the European Commission has asked member countries to do so.

The investigation is due to be finished in the coming two weeks, since there should be not many Volkswagen models with suspicious software, thinks Treciokas.

According to data from Lithuania's state vehicle registration company Regitra, obtained by BNS news agency, around 16,700 Volkswagen models produced between 2009 and 2014 are registered in the country.

Countries around the world have been lunching probes since German carmaker admitted faulty practices.

Earlier this week the company revealed there are 11 million diesel cars around the world equipped with devices capable to cheat pollution tests. Endit