U.S. Files Lawsuit Against Volkswagen Over Emissions Trickery
Volkswagen’s use of a “defeat device” to fool U.S. regulators has resulted in a federal lawsuit against the company. Volkswagen has acknowledged that millions of its diesel cars worldwide relied on a ruse to skirt emissions controls.
The civil complaint was filed in federal court in Detroit, with the Department of Justice acting on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency — which says it hasn’t yet reached an acceptable agreement with Volkswagen over how to handle a recall.
The carmakers’ vehicles were actually putting up to 40 times more pollution into the air than is allowable under U.S. standards, the EPA has said — despite the vehicles’ being awarded clean emissions credentials that triggered hefty federal tax credits. For instance, in 2009 (the first year covered by the EPA’s complaint), Americans who bought diesel-powered VW Jettas earned a $1,300 credit.
More: U.S. Files Lawsuit Against Volkswagen Over Emissions Trickery : The Two-Way : NPR