Volkswagen asks US appeals court to reconsider ruling on diesel emissions

Volkswagen admitted to using illegal software to cheat US pollution tests in 2015.The scandal has cost the company 30 billion euros ($35.5 billion) in
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A Volkswagen (VW) logo sits on display in the visitors area of the Volkswagen AG e-Golf electric automobile factory in Dresden, Germany. (Bloomberg)
A Volkswagen (VW) logo sits on display in the visitors area of the Volkswagen AG e-Golf electric automobile factory in Dresden, Germany.

Volkswagen AG's wholly owned US subsidiary on Thursday asked the Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals to reconsider a ruling that said two counties could seek financial penalties over excess diesel emissions that might cost the German automaker billions of dollars.

The 3-0 ruling in June said Utah's Salt Lake County and Florida's Hillsborough County could seek "staggering" damages over updates made to polluting diesel vehicles after they were sold. Other US counties are also pursuing claims.

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Volkswagen Group of America said the ruling, if upheld, could have sweeping ramifications for the US auto industry and could force car companies "either to avoid maintaining or improving the emission control systems of in-use vehicles... or pass on the substantial increased compliance costs to consumers."

Also Read : VW, Audi refute misrepresenting emissions' charge after Noida man files FIR

VW asked the panel to reconsider its ruling or for the full appeals court to take up the case, warning the decision could affect millions of vehicles recalled for emissions vehicles annually and could result in "regulatory chaos."

Volkswagen admitted to using illegal software to cheat US pollution tests in 2015.

VW argues the case will determine if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "exclusively regulates auto manufacturers’ post-sale, nationwide changes to their cars’ emission control systems, or whether, as the panel held, all fifty states and thousands of counties also may regulate this post-sale process."

The Justice Department opted not to offer its views before the appeals court ruled in June.

Also Read : German prosecutors search offices in Fiat, Alfa Romeo emissions probe

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 7, 2017 shows a hose for an emission test fixed in the exhaust pipe of a Volkswagen Golf 2,0 litre diesel car at the Technical Inspection Agency in Ludwigsburg, southwestern Germany.
(FILES) This file photo taken on August 7, 2017 shows a hose for an emission test fixed in the exhaust pipe of a Volkswagen Golf 2,0 litre diesel car at the Technical Inspection Agency in Ludwigsburg, southwestern Germany.

The US Chamber of Commerce and automaker trade groups told the court earlier the issue could allow states and cities "to disrupt the EPA regulatory process through imposition of their own tampering prohibitions."

Volkswagen settled US criminal and civil actions prompted by the emissions scandal for more than $20 billion, but that did not shield it from local and state government liability, the court found.

Also Read : Volkswagen can face diesel claims across EU, top court says

The judges wrote they were "mindful that our conclusion may result in staggering liability for Volkswagen. But this result is due to conduct that could not have been anticipated by Congress: Volkswagen's intentional tampering with post-sale vehicles to increase air pollution."

US District Judge Charles Breyer, who ruled in VW's favor in 2018 on the issue, noted the automaker's "potential penalties could reach $30.6 million per day and $11.2 billion per year.

The scandal has cost VW 30 billion euros ($35.5 billion) in fines, penalties and vehicle buyback costs worldwide to date.

First Published Date: 31 Jul 2020, 09:59 AM IST
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