U.S. says VW intentionally violates clean air standards

Along with Audi – which is owned by Volkswagen – 500,000 of the company’s vehicles are intentionally violating clean air laws through the use of software that violates EPA emissions standards.

Owners of the affected cars do not face health risks, according to the EPA, and can to continue to drive or sell them.

The EPA uncovered Volkswagen’s latest alleged violation after independent analysis by researchers at West Virginia University raised questions about emissions levels.

VW, in a statement, said it is cooperating with the investigation but is unable to comment further on the EPA’s findings and allegations.

“Recall announcements are becoming white noise for a lot of consumers and they don’t seem to have much of an influence on their shopping decisions”, Aaron Lewis, senior communications manager with Edmunds, said via email.

The device is programmed to detect when the auto is undergoing emissions test, during which time it will turn on its full emissions control systems.

“We expected better from VW”, said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

The accusation applies to 482,000 diesel-powered, four-cyclinder Jetta, Beetle, Audi A3, Golf, and Passat cars sold between 2008 and 2015 in the US. As a result, it could take at least one year for the agency to identify the steps Volkswagen will have to take and determine if a recall is needed.

“The EPA will require VW to remedy the noncompliance”, said agency spokesman Dan Abrams. The EPA said the “defeat device’s” effectiveness of the cars’ emissions control is greatly reduced during all normal driving conditions. The Environmental Protection Agency issued VW a notice of violation in response, adding that these vehicles pollute far more day-to-day than the manufacturer would have you believe.

The EPA worked in conjunction with the California Air Resources Board to uncover the defeat device, which is described as a piece of sophisticated software embedded in the cars’ computer systems. The largest ever penalty (paywall) for a similar violation by an automaker was a combined $300 million fine for Hyundai and Kia for overstating fuel-economy standards.