Categories
US, California reject Volkswagen’s proposed fix for diesel cars – USA TODAY
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2016
UP NEXT
03
Matthias Mueller apologizes for the emissions cheating scandal that has caused a loss of customer trust and the company to come under fire from the United States for their actions.
Kelly Jordan, USA TODAY
DETROIT—U.S. and California regulators have rejected Volkswagen’s proposed fix for most of the vehicles involved in its emissions scandal, dealing another setback to the German automaker as it tries to clean up the diesel crisis.
The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board (CARB) — known as CARB, which jointly exposed the Volkswagen violations — said independently that they had rejected the automaker’s recall proposal for 2-liter diesel cars.
CARB went a step further, blasting Volkswagen’s plan and issuing a notice of 13 violations.
The move comes a day before Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller is set to meet with EPA administrator Gina McCarthy in Washington, D.C., to discuss the potential fix.
Mueller told reporters near the Detroit auto show on Sunday that he was hopeful the company would win approval for its proposed fix. But CARB’s move means the company may have to go back to the drawing board.
“The proposed plans contain gaps and lack sufficient detail,” CARB said Tuesday in a statement. “The descriptions of proposed repairs lack enough information for a technical evaluation; and the proposals do not adequately address overall impacts on vehicle performance, emissions and safety.”
EPA said: “EPA agrees with CARB that Volkswagen has not submitted an approvable recall plan to bring the vehicles into compliance and reduce pollution. EPA has conveyed this to the company previously.”
Volkswagen noted in a statement that the rejection applies to a plan submitted to regulators in December.
“Since then, Volkswagen has had constructive discussions with CARB, including last week when we discussed a framework to remediate the” issue, VW said. “We are committed to working cooperatively with CARB and other regulators, and we plan to continue our discussions tomorrow when we meet with the EPA.”
Volkswagen has admitted to rigging up to 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide with software to cheat emissions standards, including some 580,000 in the U.S. ranging from the 2009 to 2015 model years. In the U.S., 500,000 cars with 2-liter diesel engines are affected, and another 80,000 bigger vehicles with 3-liter diesel engines are involved.
CARB said the company’s violations include failure to comply with emissions standards or test procedure and invalid certifications.
Many of the cars involved in the scandal are likely to involve a software fix and hardware changes.
Volkswagen U.S. CEO Michael Horn told reporters Monday at the North American International Auto Show that the fixes would not be completed until the end of 2017.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALVW cheated on emissions tests | 00:57
The EPA says Volkswagen installed software to cheat on emissions tests. USA TODAY’s Chris Woodyard reports.
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALHow do you fix 11 million cars? | 03:00
Volkswagen says it plans to start recalling 2.8 million diesel vehicles in Germany from January of next year and the CEO of the company has warned that workers need to be prepared for pain with a freeze to all non-essential investment.
Bloomberg
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALVW to delay or cancel all non-essential investments | 02:13
Volkswagen’s CEO Matthias Mueller has announced the automaker will delay or cancel non-essential investments in an effort to cut costs following the company’s diesel emissions scandal.
Bloomberg
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALCould the emissions scandal threaten VW’s existence? | 02:08
Volkswagen’s incoming chairman says the emissions scandal could pose an “existence threatening” crisis for the company. The German carmaker has until Wednesday to present a plan to fix some 2.8 million vehicles in its home market.
Bloomberg
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALAmericans buying new cars, just not VW | 01:15
The U.S. automakers’ monthly sales reports prove September to be a very good month, as sales were up by approx. 15% over all. VK was able to stay in the black despite its emissions scandal but is likely to show negative numbers in October
USA TODAY
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALCounty sues VW for $100 million over emissions | 01:40
Harris County, Texas, where Houston is located, wants Volkswagen to pay for years of pollution in the diesel emissions scandal.
VPC
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALVW drivers get angry notes over emissions scandal | 01:07
Some Portlanders who own Volkswagen vehicles are getting targeted by people who are upset over the emissions scandal the German auto company is currently embroiled in.
VPC
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALVW Owners Join Lawsuit Over Diesel Deception | 01:04
Volkswagen owners say they feel betrayed after leaning about the automaker’s air pollution trickery involving millions of its diesel cars. (Sept. 24)
AP
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALCan VW Win Back Trust After Admitting Diesel Dupes? | 02:50
Michael Horn, the head of the Volkswagen brand in the U.S was profusely apologetic for the diesel-emissions cheating scandal that emerged on Friday and vowed to win back the trust of the U.S. consumer.
Bloomberg
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALEPA: VW Purposely Violated Clean Air Standards | 01:09
The Environmental Protection agency ordered Volkswagen recall a half-million VW and Audi diesel cars Friday, saying the company violated clean air standards by programming on-board computers to produce phony results during emissions testing. (Sept.
AP
VW TO FIX 11 MILLION CARS AFTER EMISSIONS-RIGGING SCANDALVW Swaps CEOs, Faces Stiff Fines in Diesel Cheat | 01:23
Volkswagen named a new CEO Friday following discovery that it programmed cars to cheat on emissions tests. Meanwhile, it faces penalties form regulators, and a potential loss in customer trust. (Sept. 26)
AP
0) { %>
<!–
Join the Nation’s Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs