US
Files Complaint Against Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche for Alleged Clean Air Act
Violations
US Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, today filed a civil complaint in federal court
in Detroit, Michigan against Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Volkswagen Group of
America, Inc., Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC, Porsche
AG, and Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (collectively referred to as
Volkswagen).
The complaint alleges that nearly 600,000 diesel engine
vehicles had illegal defeat devices installed that impair their emission
control systems and cause emissions to exceed EPA’s standards, resulting in
harmful air pollution.
The complaint further alleges that Volkswagen violated the
Clean Air Act by selling, introducing into commerce, or importing into the
United States motor vehicles that are designed differently from what Volkswagen
had stated in applications for certification to EPA and the California Air
Resources Board (CARB).
“With today’s filing, we take an important step to protect public health by seeking to hold Volkswagen accountable for any unlawful air pollution, setting us on a path to resolution,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance at EPA. “So far, recall discussions with the company have not produced an acceptable way forward. These discussions will continue in parallel with the federal court action.”
“Car manufacturers that fail to properly certify their cars and that defeat emission control systems breach the public trust, endanger public health and disadvantage competitors,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The United States will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation’s clean air laws alleged in the complaint.”
“VW’s illegal defeat devices have resulted in thousands of tons of excess NOx emissions in California, a state where more than 12 million people live in areas that exceed air quality standards set to protect public health,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. "The California Air Resources Board is fully coordinating its investigation with the federal EPA and DOJ to address the environmental harm VW has caused.”
Consistent with EPA’s Notices of Violation, issued on September 18, 2015 for 2.0 liter engines, and November 2, 2015 for certain 3.0 liter engines, the complaint alleges that the defeat devices cause emissions to exceed EPA’s standards during normal driving conditions. The Clean Air Act requires vehicle manufacturers to certify to EPA that their products will meet applicable federal emission standards to control air pollution. Motor vehicles equipped with illegal defeat devices cannot be certified.
The complaint alleges that Volkswagen equipped certain 2.0 liter vehicles with software that detects when the car is being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards and turns on full emissions controls only during that testing process.
“With today’s filing, we take an important step to protect public health by seeking to hold Volkswagen accountable for any unlawful air pollution, setting us on a path to resolution,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance at EPA. “So far, recall discussions with the company have not produced an acceptable way forward. These discussions will continue in parallel with the federal court action.”
“Car manufacturers that fail to properly certify their cars and that defeat emission control systems breach the public trust, endanger public health and disadvantage competitors,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The United States will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation’s clean air laws alleged in the complaint.”
“VW’s illegal defeat devices have resulted in thousands of tons of excess NOx emissions in California, a state where more than 12 million people live in areas that exceed air quality standards set to protect public health,” said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. "The California Air Resources Board is fully coordinating its investigation with the federal EPA and DOJ to address the environmental harm VW has caused.”
Consistent with EPA’s Notices of Violation, issued on September 18, 2015 for 2.0 liter engines, and November 2, 2015 for certain 3.0 liter engines, the complaint alleges that the defeat devices cause emissions to exceed EPA’s standards during normal driving conditions. The Clean Air Act requires vehicle manufacturers to certify to EPA that their products will meet applicable federal emission standards to control air pollution. Motor vehicles equipped with illegal defeat devices cannot be certified.
The complaint alleges that Volkswagen equipped certain 2.0 liter vehicles with software that detects when the car is being tested for compliance with EPA emissions standards and turns on full emissions controls only during that testing process.
During normal driving situations the effectiveness of the
emissions control devices is greatly reduced.
This results in cars that meet emissions standards in the
laboratory and at the test site, but during normal on-road driving emit oxides
of nitrogen (NOx) at levels up to 40 times the EPA compliance level. In total,
the complaint covers approximately 499,000 2.0 liter diesel vehicles sold in
the United States since the 2009 model year.
The complaint further alleges that Volkswagen also equipped certain 3.0 liter vehicles with software that senses when the vehicle is undergoing federal emissions testing.
The complaint further alleges that Volkswagen also equipped certain 3.0 liter vehicles with software that senses when the vehicle is undergoing federal emissions testing.
When the vehicle senses the test procedure, it operates in
a “temperature conditioning” mode and meets emissions standards.
At all other times, including during normal vehicle
operation, the vehicles operate in a “normal mode” that permits NOx emissions
of up to nine times the federal standard.
In total, the complaint covers approximately 85,000 3.0
liter diesel vehicles sold in the United States since the 2009 model year.
Read more at US EPA.