Cape Town - September will see fuel prices climb by a substantial amount, reports the Automobile Association (AA), commenting on unaudited month-end fuel price data released by the Central Energy Fund. The AA says: "International petroleum prices have remained on the plateau they reached at the beginning of August, and the average Rand / US dollar exchange rate has also shown little change."  Petrol users will be hit the hardest, with an increase of 61 cents a litre, while diesel is set for a climb of 46 cents. The AA said: "The majority of the increase is attributable to strength in international petroleum prices, with just four cents of the hikes due to Rand weakness. "If oil continues to climb, South Africans should expect further pain at the pumps in the upcoming months." Information - News 24

Detroit - Volkswagen is recalling almost 281 000 CC and Passat sedans and wagons in the US because the fuel pumps can fail and cause the cars to suddenly stall. The recall covers the CC from the 2009 through 2016 model years, as well as the Passat sedan and wagon from 2006 through 2010. All have four-cylinder petrol engines. VW says in government documents that the fuel pump control computer can lose electrical power. That can stop petrol from flowing and cause the engine to stop. That problem also can make the fuel pump continue running after the car is shut off. VW will notify owners about the problem in October and send a second letter when replacement computers are available. Dealers will swap out the computers and move them so they are less susceptible to mechanical stress and heat. VW says it has no reports of crashes or injuries in the US caused by the problem. An investigation by Chinese authorities started last year brought a recall in that country, and that touched...