The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is investigating Audi and Volkswagen Canada to determine if the automakers broke provincial laws by selling diesel vehicles equipped with software that could skirt emissions testing.

In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accused Volkswagen and Audi (owned by VW) of putting “defeat devices” in diesel vehicles that let the cars get around clean air standards. The cars affected were said to be from the model years 2009 to 2015.

The province announced Wednesday it would be probing the actions for any possible violations under the Environmental Protection Act, which prohibits selling cars that do not meet emission standards.

“The actions taken by Volkswagen Canada and Audi Canada are unacceptable,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Glen Murray in a release. “We want to make sure the right steps are taken to remedy this situation in a way that is easy for Ontarians, and ensures the province’s emissions standards are met.”

A release says the government will require the companies to come up with a plan explaining how they will fix affected vehicles in Ontario.

“When Volkswagen Canada and Audi Canada have identified an Ontario-specific solution to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, they will be expected to take action to ensure impacted vehicles are in compliance while minimizing any inconvenience and costs to owners,” adds the release.

There are about 11 millions cars in the province, but the government says only 35,000 are the diesel-engine Volkswagens and Audis in question.

Furthermore, Ontario’s Drive Clean emissions testing program wasn’t likely to have been cheated because the affected cars are under seven years old and therefore not required to have been evaluated. Drive Clean’s diesel tests are performed by the human eye.

Environment Canada has been investigating Volkswagen and at least one class action against the company has been launched. Volkswagen does not have any assembly plants in Ontario.

The EPA alleges the “defeat devices” would ensure emissions controls were only fully on during official testing of the diesel-powered Audis and Volkswagens. During normal driving, the EPA says, the emissions controls would be “greatly reduced,” producing nitrogen oxide emissions at up to 40 times over what was allowed.

Volkswagen admitted there had been “discrepancies” involving 11 million diesel vehicles using a certain engine and the company’s (now former) CEO has resigned. The automaker says it has set aside C$9.6 billion to cover the costs of fixing the cars.

To contact the reporter on this story:
gzochodne@qpbriefing.com

Province investigating VW, Audi over emissions-rigging scandal

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