Volkswagen emissions scandal: technical fixes rejected in California

The California Air Resources Board has rejected Volkswagen’s proposed technical solution designed to address emissions-cheating software in 2.0-liter TDI engines, creating a setback for the automaker’s plans to refit nearly 600,000 cars in the U.S.

The EPA, itself awaiting VW’s formal proposals, backed the California regulator.

“The proposed plans contain gaps and lack sufficient detail”, CARB said in a joint statement with the EPA on Tuesday, as reported by USA Today. Sales in the second half of 2015 dropped by as much as 25% in some regions of the country, in large part because without EPA approval the company was forbidden to sell new and certain certified used diesel cars – which typically account for about 25% of overall sales.

During the North American International Auto Show on Monday, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Muller said the company had not lied about the installation of software that detected when cars were undergoing emissions testing and then changed their performance metrics.

Last week, the US Justice Department filed a suit that could lead VW to face more than $20 billion worth of fines under the Clean Air Act with additional civil penalties.

California environmental regulators have rejected a proposal by Volkswagen to recall thousands of its diesel vehicles. Under normal driving conditions, however, the cars emit far more smog-forming nitrogen oxides than regulations allow. “They continued and compounded the lie, and when they were caught they tried to deny it”.

“[We] had a … not the right interpretation of the American law”, said Mueller, who added that they “didn’t understand the question at first” when the investigators asked about defeat devices in the cars.

In a statement made to Ars today, a Volkswagen spokesperson said, “Today’s announcement addresses the initial recall plans Volkswagen submitted to CARB in December”.

In response, Volkswagen said in a statement that it was working with outside advisers “to develop a swift, fair and independent program, which will provide a comprehensive remedy for our customers”.

The EPA is insisting on an “expeditious” fix to bring Volkswagen vehicles into compliance with USA emissions standards, Chris Grundler, director of EPA’s office of transportation and air quality, said in Detroit.

“We had the wrong reaction when we got information year by year from the EPA and from the [California Air Resources Board]”, Mueller said in an interview with NPR. A rejection letter written by CARB executive officer Richard Corey cited the plan’s inability to correct the problem in a timely manner.