Volkswagen intentionally equipped its diesel cars with software designed to evade emissions standards aimed at smog reduction, the EPA charged Friday. More than 480,000 of its diesel-powered vehicles are under scrutiny from the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for allegedly polluting the air.
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The EPA says that VW installed the "defeat device" in four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009 to 2015, including the Jetta, Beetle and Golf from those model years as well as the 2014-2015 Passat; affected Audi vehicles include the 2009-15 A3. The software allegedly detected when the car was undergoing emissions testing and only turned on full emissions control systems during the testing. The EPA says that the system was then turned off in normal driving conditions, allowing the vehicles to pollute more heavily.
According to the EPA, researchers at West Virginia University, working with the International Council on Clean Transportation, found the issue and Volkswagen admitted that the cars contained defeat devices.
"Volkswagen AG and Audi AG received today notice from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Justice and the California Air Resources Board of an investigation related to certain emissions compliance matters. VW is cooperating with the investigation; we are unable to comment further at this time," spokesman Mark Gillies said.
The EPA claims that Volkswagen's actions violated the Clean Air Act, which requires that automakers certify to the EPA that their vehicles will meet federal emissions standards for controlling air pollution. The vehicles will undergo a formal recall, though VW has not yet announced plans for how to bring the vehicles' emissions systems into compliance. The EPA said the automaker will likely have to pay a fine for the violation.
What should affected owners do? Wait for recall instructions from the automaker.
"Car owners should know that although these vehicles have emissions exceeding standards, these violations do not present a safety hazard and the cars remain legal to drive and resell. Owners of cars of these models and years do not need to take any action at this time," the EPA said in a statement.
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