Va. Attorney General Multistate Investigation into Volkswagen

The software at the center of Volkswagen’s emissions scandal in the US was built into the automaker’s cars in Europe as well, though it isn’t yet clear if it helped cheat tests as it did in the USA, Germany said Thursday.

Attorney General Roy Cooper stated Thursday that North Carolina has joined other states to investigate into Volkswagen for altering software to produce false results on vehicle emissions tests. We will seek to uphold New York’s strong tradition of consumer and environmental protections as this investigation proceeds.

The so-called “defeat devices” meant that true emission levels, as much as 40 times the level legally allowed in the USA, were hidden.

President Martin Winterkorn apologized for the trickery under his authority and swore a quick and intensive examination, yet he gave no sign that he may leave. “We take these allegations, and their potential implications for public health and air pollution in the U.S., very seriously”.

Jeannine Ginivan, a Volkswagen spokeswoman, didn’t immediately return a call and e-mail seeking comment.

The multistate investigation will examine misrepresentations and deceptions regarding the 11 million diesel vehicles, which were allegedly equipped with software that could be used to cheat on emissions tests, stated the release. The lawsuits were filed as class actions representing all consumers in the U.S. or individual states who leased or bought the vehicles. The attorney general for Washington, DC, is also included in the group, she said.