WSJ : EPA Notifies Volkswagen of Added Emissions Violations

EPA Notifies Volkswagen of Added Emissions Violations
VW, Audi, Porsche 2014-16 diesel models used defeat devices during testing, regulator says

Volkswagen AG installed defeat devices aimed at manipulating U.S. emissions tests on thousands of additional diesel-powered vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency said, widening a scandal at the German auto maker that has prompted widespread investigations and cost the chief executive his job.

Volkswagen AG installed defeat devices aimed at manipulating U.S. emissions tests on thousands of additional diesel-powered vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency said, widening a scandal at the German auto maker that has prompted widespread investigations and cost the chief executive his job.

Newer Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles with model years between 2014 and 2016 contain the devices, the EPA said Monday, allowing nitrogen-oxide emissions up to nine times the agency’s standard. The agency sent Volkswagen a notice of violation pertaining to the vehicles, all equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines sold since the 2014 model year, the EPA said.

The EPA’s notice, the second to Volkswagen since the agency revealed its initial findings in September, covers roughly 10,000 diesel passenger cars already sold in the U.S. since the 2014 model year. There are an unknown number of 2016 models covered by the notice, the EPA said.

The EPA and California Air Resources Board have both opened probes into the newly-disclosed allegations. California regulators on Sept. 25 sent a letter to all auto makers alerting them that they would be screening for possible defeat devices. The EPA, along with regulators in California and Canada, since then tested additional diesel-powered cars and sport-utility vehicles, leading to Monday’s allegations.

The September notice from the EPA to Volkswagen affected nearly a half million cars sold since 2008. The defeat devices detect when vehicles are undergoing tests, showing them to emit less than they do in normal driving conditions. Like the vehicles referenced in September, the EPA said Volkswagen’s defeat devices on the models detailed on Monday violated the federal Clean Air Act.

“VW has once again failed its obligation to comply with the law that protects clean air for all Americans,” said Cynthia Giles, the EPA’s associate administrator of enforcement and compliance assurance, in a call with reporters.

Volkswagen had no immediate comment. It remained unclear whether Volkswagen planned to halt sales of the affected models as it did with the 482,000 diesel-powered vehicles that were revealed in September to contain defeat devices. EPA officials declined to comment on Volkswagen’s plans or their discussions with the auto maker.

The EPA and California Air Resources Board have both opened probes into the newly-disclosed allegations. California regulators on Sept. 25 sent a letter to all auto makers alerting them that they would be screening for possible defeat devices. The EPA, along with regulators in California and Canada, since then tested additional diesel-powered cars and sport-utility vehicles, leading to Monday’s allegations.

Regulators said they uncovered the additional defeat devices after they started testing additional vehicles in the wake of the earlier discoveries.

The vehicles affected by the newly-disclosed violations are the 2014 VW Touareg; 2015 Porsche Cayenne; and 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5.

>>> EPA Says Volkswagen Also Programmed Larger Diesel Cars to Cheat on Emissions

*DJ Affected Vehicles: 2014 VW Touareg; 2015 Porsche Cayenne; 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5
*DJ VW Violations on 2014-16 Diesel Models Uncovered in EPA Testing -- EPA
*DJ VW, Porsche, Audi Diesel Vehicles with 3.0 Liter Engines Have Defeat Devices -- EPA
*DJ EPA, Calif. Regulators Both Open Probes on New VW Violations -- EPA
*DJ VW Emissions Violations Cover 10,000 Vehicles -- EPA
*DJ VW, Audi Porsche Excess Nitrogen Oxide Emissions Up to Nine Times EPA Standard -- EPA

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