The German transport authorities plan to order auto giant Volkswagen to recall 2.4 million diesel vehicles in Germany that are equipped with pollution-cheating software, a spokesman told AFP on Thursday.

"We are going to issue the order," the spokesman for the KBA or Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt said, adding that "2.4 million vehicles are concerned" and that the authority would monitor the recall. Last week, VW put forward a plan to begin recalling the vehicles from January 2016.