EPA Rejects Volkswagen’s Proposed Diesel Emissions Fix

These vehicles contain the diesel emission deceiving software.

“Volkswagen made a decision to cheat on emissions tests and then tried to cover it up”, said board Chairwoman Mary Nichols. Today, CARB denied that request (PDF), saying that California regulations “require expeditious action” during a recall.

“I think they had a framework of a plan, and it wasn’t enough detail for CARB and EPA to be happy with it”.

Regulators in California who have been empowered to conduct auto pollution emission tests have rejected a proposal from Volkswagen to fix vehicles that were involved in the company’s efforts to circumvent federal air quality standards.

Volkswagen may end up buying back tens of thousands of diesel-engined cars in the U.S., Bloomberg reports, citing two sources familiar with the matter. He added: “It gives us more options”. The state said it will continue its investigation as well as talks with VW.

Volkswagen boss Matthias Müller is due to meet with Gina McCarthy, the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), later today.

VW said that Mueller was aware that his choice of words caused irritation and said he wanted the US public to know that his apology for the company’s breach of trust was sincere and honest.

CARB has previously extended the deadline to consider Volkswagen’s proposed solutions, in light of new information that the automaker was providing the agency, announcing its reply on January 12.

EPA said in a statement it agreed with California “that Volkswagen has not submitted an approvable recall plan to bring the vehicles into compliance and reduce pollution”.

The defeat devices installed on Volkswagen’s 2.0L diesel vehicles manufactured for model year (MY) 2009 through MY 2015 circumvented both CARB and EPA emission test procedures.

“We now learn that the company’s newly appointed and most senior leader doesn’t believe Volkswagen lied, which is undisputable, and can not say when it plans to deliver its solution to a problem that is affecting millions of Americans, which is unacceptable”.

Mueller: We didn’t lie. VW said it would present a reworked plan at the meeting in Washington. Archer said VW would be the first to retrofit that type of system in a diesel vehicle, and it would undoubtedly be expensive. He expected the trip to mold broken hearts and fix wounds, but failed to do so. They must now continue discussions with the state agency.

The U.S. Justice Department, representing EPA, filed a civil lawsuit last week that could potentially expose VW to more than $20 billion in fines under the Clean Air Act.