THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE EPA CHARGES VOLKSWAGON WITH A DEFEAT DEVICE TO EVADE THE CLEAN AIR STANDARDS WITH PENALTIES TO THE TUNE OF $18 BILLION -THE DEVICE UNDER TESTING IS ACTIVATED LIMITING EMISSIONS VERSUS NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS SO IT SEEMS–AS 500,000 CARS AFFECTED

US regulators have charged Volkswagen with manufacturing vehicles designed to evade government pollution controls, and said the German auto giant should urgently fix nearly 500,000 cars.

Volkswagen could face an $18bn penalty over the software made to meet clean-air standards during official emissions testing but which would intentionally turn off during normal operations, US and California regulators said.

'Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean-air standards is illegal and a threat to public health'

Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency

As a result, the diesel cars emit greater-than-allowed quantities of pollution linked to smog and various health ills.

"Using a defeat device in cars to evade clean-air standards is illegal and a threat to public health," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Both the EPA and the California Air Resources Board have launched investigations into the matter. The EPA also referred the case to the US Department of Justice.

Potential civil penalties under the Clean Air Act could be as much as $37,500 per car, or more than $18bn.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/11876210/Volkswagen-fine-defeat-device-emissions-testing.html