The head of VW cars in the UK has apologised "unreservedly" for "significantly" letting down its customers in the diesel emissions scandal.
It comes days after the American boss of VW made a 'sincere apology' over the scandal which has affected more than 11 million cars worldwide.
German transport chiefs have demanded that all Volkswagen cars sold with software that enabled them to evade diesel emissions testing be recalled.
The Federal Motor Transport Authority has rejected a Volkswagen proposal for a voluntary recall, according to the dpa news agency, with transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt, to announce details of the recall.
VW CEO Matthias Mueller said a recall could start in January and be completed by the end of next year in Germany.
The company has said around 11 million cars worldwide, 2.8 million of them in Germany, have the software that duped US inspectors.
Volvo withdrew an app comparing cars' emissions in 2011, after being told by that the data "could not be taken seriously".
Volkswagen's US boss has admitted he was told in spring last year of the emissions cheating affecting millions of the company's vehicles.
Volkswagen could start recalling cars containing emissions cheating software in January, according to the firm's new chief executive.