This means the can't legally be driven and have been rendered inert – several thousand pounds of deadweight their owners can no longer use – at least, not without risking more serious repercussions.

Germany's federal motor vehicle authority, the KBA, had already de-registered several Audi and VW cars fitted with the "affected" Euro 5 diesel engines after owners ignored successive reminders to heed a recall.

Recalls, of course, usually pertain to cars that have something wrong with them which makes them unsafe to drive. This is the first time a car that works perfectly has been subject to a recall – one which results in the "fixed" cars working less well.