Hi Nomad - copied and pasted from the good to know app below:
Diesel Particle Filter
The diesel particle filter collects and burns soot generated during the combustion of diesel fuel.
The diesel particle filter filters almost all of the soot particles from the exhaust gases. The diesel particle filter is cleaned after longer or shorter intervals depending on the driving style. During this cleaning process, which takes a few minutes, there can temporarily be a slight, low-frequency change in the engine noise and brief adaptation of the gearshift behaviour.
If automatic filter cleaning is not possible (because, for example, the vehicle is used for short trips only), a warning message appears on the multi-function display in the instrument panel.
For information on warning messages on the multi-function display:
Please refer to chapter "OVERVIEW OF WARNING AND INFORMATION MESSAGES".
Adapt your driving style so that the filter cleans itself automatically.
Drive for about 15 minutes at a minimum speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and an engine speed greater than 2,000 rpm.
Also ties in with my previous experiences with VW Group (Skoda) vehicles.
If you ignore the warning lights and it goes into limp home mode you get one chance at a " forced regeneration" by the dealership using the diagnostic machine; after that its a new filter.