EPA: Emissions Scandal Includes More Audi, VW Vehicles & Porsche Cayenne

Investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have indicated that the beleaguered auto company Volkswagen has acknowledged that more cars were involved in the VW emissions scandal than previously indicated.

The Volkswagen emissions problems now include all Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles with 3.0-liter engines from model years 2009 to 2016.

Volkswagen has been under investigation by regulators at the state and federal levels since it came to light that many of their vehicles may have “defeat devices.” The devices were allegedly designed to trick emissions testing equipment.

According to regulators, the defeat devices could detect when the vehicles were undergoing emissions testing and change the vehicles’ emission profile to make it look like the vehicles polluted less than they did.

Volkswagen has admitted that up to 11 million vehicles worldwide have equipment designed to cheat emissions standards. Though sources call it a “defeat device,” the device is actually part of the car’s programming rather than a discrete piece of equipment.

The widening scope of the EPA’s investigation means that not only are more vehicles involved in the Volkswagen emissions scandal, but larger vehicles. They now include Audi’s A6, A7, A8, and Q5 models, as well as the Volkswagen Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne from various model years.

Volkswagen Vice President Jeri Ward has stated that she does not have a specific list of every vehicle model and year that had the defeat device since the scope of the issue has widened.

An Audi spokesman, Brad Stertz, has stated that the company did not tell the EPA about the defeat device. However, Stertz also says that the software is legal in Europe.

For the moment Volkswagen has suspended selling all Volkswagen diesel vehicles that allegedly have the illegal software. The new vehicles added to the list allegedly used a different set of software algorithms than the originally reported defeat device.

Volkswagon Penalties and Lawsuits

It is estimated that Volkswagen may face billions in fines over the Volkswagen emissions scandal. The EPA has the authority to level fines of $37,500 per violation under the Clean Air Act, which could add up to more than $21 billion in fines if all of the allegations prove true.

The alleged Volkswagen emissions scandal could also fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Justice, which could impose further fines and punishments. On top of this, Volkswagen may face Volkswagen lawsuits by customers who bought cars with the alleged Volkswagen emissions defeat device.

Individual or class action Volkswagen lawsuits may allege that consumers partly choose to purchase Volkswagen diesel vehicles because they were marketed as “clean diesel” and other environmentally-friendly sounding labels.

If the allegations made by the EPA pan out, people who purchased Volkswagen vehicles could allege that these cars and SUVs were deceptively or fraudulently marketed, leading people to purchase vehicles they otherwise would not have.

Volkswagen has announced that the company will be drastically reducing their investment in expansion. Volkswagen has stated that they are cutting spending by $1.1 billion a year. Most of these cuts will come from new factories and initiatives.

UPDATE: On June 28, 2016, Volkswagen reached proposed settlements with both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission following the VW emissions scandal. VW’s deal with the DOJ includes up to $14.7 billion along with vehicle buyback provisions as well as funding for pollution control programs. In addition to the DOJ settlement, Volkswagen will also spend up to $10 billion in a buyback and lease termination settlement with the FTC that is expected to include about 475,000 vehicles.

UPDATE 2: The Volkswagen, Audi diesel emissions class action settlement is now open! Click here to file a claim!