Volkswagen and Audi could be fined an amount of USD 18 billion; USD 37,500 per car, for  cheating emission regulation tests by the Environmental Protective Agency(EPA) in the United States. The German firm used a software on an estimated 48,200 of its diesel cars for tricking official emission tests. This 'defeat device' installed could detect when the cars were undergoing EPA tests, and turn on the all the emission control systems of the vehicles, making them emissions compliant. The emission controls were switched off in real-world driving conditions, resulting in emissions up to 40 times the compliance standards. The cheat software was found on the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines on the US Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, Beetle, the 2014-15 Passat and the Audi A3(2009-2015 models).

 

According to the EPA, the cars under investigation could be emitting up to 40 times the national standard for nitrogen oxide. The agency has held the company liable for civil penalties and alleged violations. But despite the accusations, the cars are legal to sell and drive. The Volkswagen Group, however, will issue a recall on 5,00,000 cars as per the orders of US regulators. Sales of the latest Volkswagen and Audi models equipped with the four-cylinder diesel engine will also be put on hold.  

 

VW boss Martin Winterkorn has issued an apology for breaking the trust of its customers and the public."We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case. Volkswagen has ordered an external investigation of this matter. We do not and will not tolerate violations of any kind of our internal rules or of the law. The trust of our customers and the public is and continues to be our most important asset," said Winterkorn.

 

The above mentioned VW cars were limited to distribution only in the USA. The vehicles produced and sold in other countries are yet to be tested for the software. 

 

The issue will be investigated by the US Congress’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. The committee will take into account the allegations raised by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that Volkswagen manipulated emissions testing regulations in the USA.

 

“Strong emissions standards are in place for the benefit of public health. Manufacturers throughout the United States, and across the world, have developed leading technologies to reduce airborne emissions within the limits set by EPA and state environmental agencies,” chairman of the United States House of Representatives Fred Upton and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy said in a joint statement.

 

“However, reported EPA allegations that certain Volkswagen models contained software to defeat auto emissions tests raise serious questions. We will follow the facts. We are also concerned that auto consumers may have been deceived – that what they were purchasing did not come as advertised...,” they added. However, a date for hearing by the congressional investigators hasn’t been decided upon yet.