Oregon among states investigating Volkswagen

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas and 27 other attorneys general initiated a multi-state Volkswagen investigation Thursday.

A law firm is suing Volkswagen in the United States over the “defeat devices” used to fool emissions tests on diesel cars.

Meanwhile, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office says he and the other attorneys general will send subpoenas to the German automaker. Many states will be reviewing this matter through both their consumer protection and environmental protection divisions.

Volkswagen admits the software – which kicks in during exhaust tests – may be in some 11 million vehicles worldwide. The software then switches off again, enabling cars to drive more powerfully on the road while emitting as much as 40 times the legal pollution limit.

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.

Kristin Ford, a spokeswoman for California Attorney General Kamala Harris, said she “can’t comment on ongoing investigations to protect the integrity of those investigations”. “I am furious that the world’s leading vehicle company willfully took steps that polluted our environment and deceived consumers”, he said. The lawsuits were filed as class actions representing all consumers in the USA or individual states who leased or bought the vehicles. Washington D.C.is also part of the group.