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A day after the Justice Department reached a settlement with Volkswagen, another automaker has been accused of using software to cheat U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions testing:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a notice of violation to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and FCA US LLC (collectively FCA) for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act for installing and failing to disclose engine management software in light-duty model year 2014, 2015 and 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with 3.0 liter diesel engines sold in the United States. The undisclosed software results in increased emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the vehicles. The allegations cover roughly 104,000 vehicles. EPA is working in coordination with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which has also issued a notice of violation to FCA. EPA and CARB have both initiated investigations based on FCA's alleged actions.
"Failing to disclose software that affects emissions in a vehicle's engine is a serious violation of the law, which can result in harmful pollution in the air we breathe," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "We continue to investigate the nature and impact of these devices. All automakers must play by the same rules, and we will continue to hold companies accountable that gain an unfair and illegal competitive advantage."
"Once again, a major automaker made the business decision to skirt the rules and got caught," said CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols. "CARB and U.S. EPA made a commitment to enhanced testing as the Volkswagen case developed, and this is a result of that collaboration."
Also at Reuters and Ars Technica.
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The DoJ has reached an agreement with Volkswagen. Meanwhile, additional Volkswagen executives and employees have been indicted but not arrested, as they are believed to be in Germany:
Volkswagen AG (VW) has agreed to plead guilty to three criminal felony counts and pay a $2.8 billion criminal penalty as a result of the company's long-running scheme to sell approximately 590,000 diesel vehicles in the U.S. by using a defeat device to cheat on emissions tests mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and lying and obstructing justice to further the scheme, the Justice Department announced today.
In separate civil resolutions of environmental, customs and financial claims, VW has agreed to pay $1.5 billion. This includes EPA's claim for civil penalties against VW in connection with VW's importation and sale of these cars, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) claims for customs fraud. In addition, the EPA agreement requires injunctive relief to prevent future violations. The agreements also resolve alleged violations of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA).
[...] In addition, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned an indictment today charging six VW executives and employees for their roles in the nearly 10-year conspiracy. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, 56; Jens Hadler, 50; Richard Dorenkamp, 68; Bernd Gottweis, 69; Oliver Schmidt, 48; and Jürgen Peter, 59, all of Germany, are charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, defraud VW's U.S. customers and violate the Clean Air Act by making false representations to regulators and the public about the ability of VW's supposedly "clean diesel" vehicles to comply with U.S. emissions requirements. The indictment also charges Dorenkamp, Neusser, Schmidt and Peter with Clean Air Act violations and charges Neusser, Gottweis, Schmidt and Peter with wire fraud counts. This case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Sean F. Cox of the Eastern District of Michigan.
Previously: FBI Arrests Volkswagen Executive for Role in Emissions Conspiracy
(Score: 3, Insightful) by bob_super on Friday January 13 2017, @08:00PM
The twist is the the regulations don't just come out of whatever Obama scribbles on the stall walls while taking a dump.
The numbers are agreed on as realistic targets by most manufacturers (all the important ones) before they get published. The timeline is defined as far enough to enable them to integrate the new techs that will help, and the "fleet averages" are carefully weighed to allow the high-profit trucks and SUVs to keep them in business while selling cars people can afford.
The administration pushes for less oil and less pollution, but emission compliance isn't a stab in the manufacturer's back...
I guess the negotiators must have either believed the advertised numbers or believed they'd never get caught, and let some targets get adopted which turn out to be too tough...
While the Europeans are also cheating, it's undeniable that they have small diesels (and small gas engines) which would comply with the US regulations adn could raise fleet averages by quite a bit. If you could convince Americans that they indeed fit inside.