EU to extend emissions tests probe
Print Edition
THE European Commission has written to all 28 European Union member countries urging them to widen their investigations into potential breaches of vehicle emissions rules after Volkswagen admitted it had understated carbon dioxide levels.
Europe’s biggest motor manufacturer admitted in September it had rigged diesel emissions tests in the United States to mask the level of emissions of health-harming nitrogen oxides.
In a growing scandal, the German company said on Tuesday it had also understated the fuel consumption — and so carbon dioxide emissions — of about 800,000 vehicles.
The commission said in a letter seen by Reuters that it was unaware of any irregularities concerning carbon dioxide values and was seeking the support of EU governments “to find out how and why this could happen.” It said also it has contacted Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), which is responsible for approving the conformity of new car types, and raised the issue with other national authorities at a meeting late on Thursday in Brussels.
A Commission spokeswoman confirmed the letter, adding it asked governments “to widen their investigations to establish potential breaches of EU law”.
“Public trust is at stake. We need all the facts on the table and rigorous enforcement of existing legislation,” she said.
With vehicle testing in the EU overseen by national authorities, the bloc’s executive body, the commission, is reliant on each country to enforce rules.
This arrangement has come under fire from environmentalists because on-road tests have consistently shown vehicles emitting more pollutants than laboratory tests.
EU countries struck a deal last week that would tighten emissions rules, but still allow vehicles on the road to pollute more than agreed limits for laboratory tests. The commission is also working on further reforms.
The commission’s letter, dated November 5 and signed by Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowksa and Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, asked for information by the end of this month about “evidence or information concerning possible irregularities related to the certification of CO2 emissions values”.
“If relevant, how many of the vehicles that were registered in your country in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 were possibly affected?” the letter asked.
Meanwhile, two sources familiar with the matter said yesterday that Volkswagen’s design chief Walter Maria de Silva has quit, adding to the list of top executives to leave the company since the emissions scandal broke.
The sources gave no reason for the resignation, which was first reported by Auto Motor und Sport magazine.
Volkswagen declined to comment and de Silva could not immediately be reached for comment.
Italian-born de Silva, 64, has been chief designer at the German company since 2007, with responsibility for all the group’s brands which include VW, Audi, Seat and Porsche.
Europe’s biggest carmaker has already seen the resignation of long-time chief executive Martin Winterkorn.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
