The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has served the carmaker with a notice of violation (NOV) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), which says that four-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars from model years 2009-2015 included software that circumvents EPA emissions standards for certain air pollutants.

“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 Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Working closely with the California Air Resources Board, EPA is committed to making sure that all automakers play by the same rules. EPA will continue to investigate these very serious matters.”

The allegations cover roughly 482,000 diesel passenger cars sold in the United States since 2008. 



Affected diesel models are said to comprise:


• Jetta (Model Years 2009 – 2015)


• Beetle (Model Years 2009 – 2015)


• Audi A3 (Model Years 2009 – 2015)


• Golf (Model Years 2009 – 2015)


• Passat (Model Years 2014-2015)

The EPA said the device on these models detects when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and turns full emissions controls on only during the test. This means that the cars meet emissions standards in the laboratory or testing station, but during normal operation they emit nitrogen oxides at up to 40 times the standard.

In response, Dr Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen AG, said: “I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public. We will cooperate fully with the responsible agencies, with transparency and urgency, to clearly, openly, and completely establish all of the facts of this case.

“The trust of our customers and the public is and continues to be our most important asset. We at Volkswagen will do everything that must be done in order to re-establish the trust that so many people have placed in us, and we will do everything necessary in order to reverse the damage this has caused.”