Dems want VW fuel economy benefits reversed

A pair of senators said Monday that Volkswagen should be forced to give up any fuel economy tax benefits they have received after the company was accused of additional violations of federal air pollution emission standards. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said earlier Monday that Volkswagen installed software on diesel models of its 2014-2016 cars, ncluded autos that are marketed under Volkswagen’s Audi and Porsche subsidiary brands, that activates required air pollution protections only during emissions tests. 

Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the Obama administration should rescind any benefits for fuel savings that have been in issued to Volkswagen after the company’s latest emissions infractions. 

{mosads}“Volkswagen should be held accountable for illegally using defeat devices to cheat consumers and emissions controls,” the senators said in a joint statement. “The administration should reverse any CAFE or other benefits VW might have enjoyed as a result of illegal behavior. We commend EPA for holding VW accountable for their actions and for protecting the air we breathe from pollution.”

Volkswagen was previously accused of installing the so-called “defeat devices” on about 482,000 diesel vehicles since 2008. 

The company has admitted to programming vehicles to trick emissions testers into believing its diesel cars released a much lower volume of nitrogen oxide than they actually do. In regular driving, the vehicles emitted up to 40 times more pollution.

The head of Volkswagen’s U.S. division offered a “sincere apology” to lawmakers in early October for his company’s efforts to circumvent federal air pollution emission standards. 

“On behalf of our company, and my colleagues in Germany, I would like to offer a sincere apology for Volkswagen’s use of a software program that served to defeat the regular emissions testing regime,” Volkswagen’s CEO for North America, Michael Horn, said during an Oct. 8 hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s oversight panel. 

“These events are deeply troubling,” he added. “I did not think that something like this was possible at the Volkswagen Group. We have broken the trust of our customers, dealerships and employees, as well as the public and regulators.” 

The EPA said earlier on Monday that the latest Volkswagen emission infractions involve the company’s 2014 Touareg, 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5 models.

The agency’s Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Cynthia Giles, said  the agency is conducting an ongoing investigation into all of Volkswagen’s diesel-powered vehicles after discovering the additional rounds of violations. 

“VW has once again failed its obligation to comply with the law that protects clean air for all Americans,” Giles said in a statement. “All companies should be playing by the same rules. EPA, with our state, and federal partners, will continue to investigate these serious matters, to secure the benefits of the Clean Air Act, ensure a level playing field for responsible businesses, and to ensure consumers get the environmental performance they expect.”