Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) has announced it will initiate a voluntary recall of a further 61,000 Volkswagen and Skoda models affected in the emissions test-cheating scandal that came into public view around one year ago.

Confirming Federal Government approval for the recall today, VGA said that a software fix is now available for "more than 35,000" cars, with other model-specific software solutions to become available "shortly".

In each case, the fix will update the software that controls the affected 2.0- and 1.6-litre diesel engines, while some - those fitted with the 1.6-litre engine - will involve a "minor" hardware update.

That additional change will be the installation of a new flow rectifier (also known as a flow transformer) in front of the engine's air mass sensor, designed to produce smoother airflow for better measurement.

Crucially, the company has promised the update will leave power and performance unaffected.

“Our confidence in this solution is based on the experience of thousands of Amarok owners in Australia and more than 1.7 million customers internationally who have had the update implemented," Volkswagen Group Australia managing director Michael Bartsch said in a statement today.