September 19, 2015 – Volkswagen Group is in deep trouble as the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently accused the German auto giant of cheating in diesel emissions tests.
According to the EPA, Volkswagen and Audi have been using a clever software that automatically detects when the car is undergoing emissions testing and turns on the emissions control device, in order for the car to pass the strict emissions standards. After the test, or in real-world driving, the software turns off the control device, bringing nitrogen oxides emissions up to 40 times above the allowable levels.
If the Volkswagen Group is found guilty, the company could face fines of up to 37,500 dollars per vehicle sold, which would add up to about 18 billion dollars, considering the group has sold 482,000 vehicles in the US.
The models affected are: 2009-2015 Volkswagen Beetle, Golf, Jetta and Audi A3, in addition to 2014-2015 Volkswagen Passat – all of which are equipped with a four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.