Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automotive News Europe
March 24, 2016 01:00 AM

U.S. judge sets April 21 deadline for VW, EPA to reach diesel fix

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    (Reuters) -- A U.S. judge gave Volkswagen and U.S. regulators until April 21 to reach a diesel emissions fix covering about 600,000 vehicles following the automaker's massive emissions cheating scandal.

    U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, and lawyers for the Justice Department and VW, said at a court hearing in San Francisco that they were making progress in intensive negotiations, but issues remain and no settlement has been reached yet.

    Breyer said the remedy could involve fixing the 580,000 vehicles on U.S. roads or buy backs and other options, but said he would not disclose any details of the ongoing talks.

    If no deal is reached by April 21, Breyer said he would consider holding a trial on the issue this summer to address the vehicles that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says emit up to 40 times legally allowable pollution in real world driving.

    “Volkswagen is committed to resolving the U.S. regulatory investigation into the diesel emissions matter as quickly as possible and to implementing a solution for affected vehicles, as we work to earn back the trust of our customers and dealers and the public," VW said in a statement today.

    "We continue to make progress and are cooperating fully with the efforts undertaken by Judge Breyer, working through Director (Robert) Mueller, to bring about a prompt and fair resolution of the U.S. civil litigation.”

    Mueller is the former U.S. FBI director appointed by Breyer to be the settlement master for VW’s litigation.

    Breyer last month set a deadline of today for VW to state whether it has found an emissions fix that is acceptable to U.S. regulators.

    One central issue is whether the EPA will accept a fix that does not completely address excess on-road emissions. Earlier this month, a California Air Resources Board (CARB) official said the state may allow partially repaired VW diesel cars to continue operating on its roads because a full fix may be impossible.

    The agreement being negotiated also includes creating national and California funds to make amends for past and future environmental damage and solutions to reduce the pollution from the affected vehicles or remove them from the road, people familiar with the talks have said.

    The affected cars are equipped with "defeat devices" that allow them to pass laboratory emissions tests despite exceeding federal standards by up to 40 times when they are driven on roads.

    Buyback costs 

    The cost of buying back all the affected vehicles could be $9.4 billion, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Brandon Barnes.

    Todd Sax, chief of CARB's enforcement division, said this month he did not believe a fix was available that would allow the cars to comply with the emissions standards or the onboard diagnostic requirements. "We will have to decide what the best approach is to dealing with these vehicles, and one of the options potentially would be to accept something less than a full fix," he said.

    The U.S. Justice Department in February sued VW for up to $46 billion for violating U.S. environmental laws.

    A settlement could help reduce that financial hit significantly. It would also free VW to focus more on overhauling its products and operations in the U.S. VW's plans include updating models every five years instead of seven, adding SUVs and buying more parts locally.

    And engineers at VW's only U.S. factory, in Chattanooga, Tenn., will steer the new projects, reversing the failed pattern of planning cars for the North American market at the automaker's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany.

    VW and its Audi and Porsche brands remain barred from selling any new 2016 diesel models in the United States.

    VW spokesman Eric Felber declined to comment, saying the talks with U.S. authorities are confidential. EPA spokeswoman Laura Allen declined to comment. David Clegern, a spokesman for the California Air Resources Board, said there is nothing the agency can say "at this point." Mark Abueg, a spokesman for the Department of Justice, also declined to comment. 

    Automotive News Europe and Bloomberg also contributed to this report.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    EV efficiency takes center stage at the Automotive News Europe Congress
    Recommended for You
    Renault electric car
    EV efficiency takes center stage at the Automotive News Europe Congress
    Renault Flins recycling 2021
    Explore Renault's Refactory at the Automotive News Europe Congress
    Fredrika Klaren Polestar Congress 2023
    Polestar sustainability chief Fredrika Klaren to speak at Automotive News Europe Congress
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: All or nothing: Why circular business models require a holistic approach
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • PUBLICIS SAPIENT: The power of post-purchase: How automakers can maximize customer lifetime value
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us