A growing number of manufacturers are being linked with the VW emissions scandal
In the biggest scandal to hit the car industry in decades, the Volkswagen (VW) emissions story – which has seen 1m tonnes of pollutants hidden, millions of cars affected and many a job lost – has now seen four more manufacturers linked.
The scandal relates to devices installed in a number of VW vehicles that hid the true emission levels of engines.
It led to VW setting aside €5.6bn for the fall out, with recalls and politics destined to dominate proceedings for the foreseeable future.
Now, the state of Texas has launched a major lawsuit against both VW and the VW-owned Audi over the marketing of their diesel vehicles.
The scandal originated in the US, with VW’s US chief yesterday claiming he knew nothing of the devices in question until last month.
Speaking to a panel of US Congressmen, Michael Horn said he only discovered the issue a couple of days before the company came out and admitted the problem.
He said a “couple of software engineers” were behind the device, claiming it “was not a corporate decision”.
“This was something individuals did,” he said.
Meanwhile The Guardian alleges that four more car manufacturers have vehicles emitting “significantly more pollution on the road” then in regulatory tests.
This adds Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi to The Guardian’s previous allegations that Renault, Nissan, Hyundai, Citroen, Fiat, Volvo and Jeep also produce higher NOx emissions than stated.
ADAC, a German motoring organisation, also claims many more manufacturers are producing greater emissions than initially detailed, with growing pressure on the entire diesel vehicle industry.
Main image via Shutterstock
