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Germany reportedly plans to retest emissions for every Volkswagen model

Porsche and Audi announce a halt to sales of certain models in the US as their parent company grapples with a global emissions-cheating scandal.

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The Dieselgate scandal has widened to include VW's 3.0-liter diesel engines.

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Germany reportedly plans to retest all Volkswagen models to determine their actual emissions levels as the automaker grapples with a global scandal over how it masked carbon-dioxide emissions from millions of its cars. At the same time, Audi and Porsche have responded to new claims test-defeat devices were used on their vehicles by ordering a halt to car sales in the US.

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Wednesday his department will oversee a retest of both gasoline- and diesel-powered Volkswagen brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat, to gauge their true carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions, according to Reuters. The announcement came after the German automaker revealed Tuesday it had understated the carbon-dioxide emission from 800,000 vehicles.

"We all have an interest that everything at VW is turned over and reviewed," Dobrindt said.

Volkswagen has been in hot water since the German automaker admitted in September to using illegal software to deceive emissions testers. Since then, the diesel scandal has erupted into a series of investigations, court proceedings and ever-widening recalls. Some 11 million vehicles are affected worldwide, and that number appears to be on the rise once again.

Three Volkswagen brands have issued new stop-sales orders in the US after news broke that the group's 3.0-liter diesel engines allegedly also contain defeat devices aimed at cheating emissions tests. Dealers are not allowed to sell vehicles under the orders, leaving them to languish on lots around the country.

Porsche issued a stop-sale order in the US covering the 2014-2016 Porsche Cayenne Diesel. VW's stop-sale covers the 2015-2016 Touareg TDI, and Audi's covers the largest group of all -- 2015-2016 TDI variants of the A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 are all affected. Pre-owned models from the 2013 and 2014 model years are also included in their respective stop-sale orders. Audi has also removed all mentions of diesel engines from its website.

Volkswagen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.