Engineering news
The US Department of Justice is suing Volkswagen over the emissions scandal, which saw the German car manufacturer fit software in millions of vehicles to cheat emissions tests.
The complaint, filed on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alleges that nearly 600,000 diesel engine vehicles had illegal defeat devices installed that impair their emission control systems and cause emissions to exceed EPA’s standards.
The complaint also alleges that Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act by selling, introducing into commerce, or importing into the US motor vehicles that are designed differently from what was stated in applications for certification to EPA and the California Air Resources Board.
Cynthia Giles , assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said: “With today’s filing, we take an important step to protect public health by seeking to hold Volkswagen accountable for any unlawful air pollution, setting us on a path to resolution.
“So far, recall discussions with the company have not produced an acceptable way forward. These discussions will continue in parallel with the federal court action.”
The car manufacturer is facing separate criminal charges and a raft of class-action lawsuits filed by vehicle owners.
The scandal has hit the manufacturer hard. Chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigned as a result and was replaced with Matthias Mueller, the former head of Porsche.
The company is currently conducting an internal investigation that it says will "leave no stone unturned" and has set aside €6.7 billion (£4.6 billion) to cover costs of the scandal. The company posted its first quarterly loss for 15 years, of €2.5 billion at the end of October.