VW’s emission scandal threatens Porsche, US authorities claim 3.0-litre diesel engines affected

The American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a second notice of violation to the scandal-hit Volkswagen Group alleging that the German automotive major fitted illegal defeat devices in its 3.0-litre diesel engines used in major group brands including Porsche.

According to the American environmental watchdog’s notice, VW developed and installed a defeat device in certain VW, Audi and Porsche light duty diesel vehicles equipped with three-litre engines for model years (MY) 2014 through 2016 that increases emissions of nitrogen oxide up to nine times the legal limits. The vehicles allegedly affected are the diesel versions of the 2014 VW Touareg, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and the 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5. In total, 10,000 cars in the US have been implicated.

These alleged violations are in addition to the notice issued on September 18 and the ongoing investigation by EPA alleging a ‘defeat device’ on certain 2.0-litre engines for MY 2009-2015 vehicles.

“VW has once again failed its obligation to comply with the law that protects clean air for all Americans,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for the Office for EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.”

 “All companies should be playing by the same rules. EPA, with our state, and federal partners, will continue to investigate these serious matters, to secure the benefits of the Clean Air Act, ensure a level playing field for responsible businesses, and to ensure consumers get the environmental performance they expect.”

A statement from Porsche expressed shock at the claims. The statement read: "We are surprised to learn this information. Until this notice, all of our information was that the Porsche Cayenne Diesel is fully compliant. Porsche Cars North America will cooperate fully with all relevant authorities."

A statement from the VW Group said: "The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft on Monday that vehicles with V6 TDI engines had a software function which had not been adequately described in the application process. Volkswagen AG wishes to emphasise that no software has been installed in the power units to alter emissions characteristics in a forbidden manner. Volkswagen will cooperate fully with the EPA clarify this matter in its entirety."

The EPA alleges that when the vehicle fitted with a defeat device senses that it is undergoing a federal emissions test procedure, it operates in a low NOx “temperature conditioning” mode. Under that mode, the vehicle meets emission standards. At exactly one second after the completion of the initial phases of the standard test procedure, the vehicle immediately changes a number of operating parameters that increase NOx emissions and indicates in the software that it is transitioning to “normal mode,” where emissions of NOx increase up to nine times the EPA standard, depending on the vehicle and type of driving conditions.

In other tests where the vehicle does not experience driving conditions similar to the start of the federal test procedure, the emissions are higher from the start, consistent with “normal mode.”

The EPA also alleges that VW's software on these vehicles includes one or more Auxiliary Emission Control Devices that the company failed to disclose, describe and justify in their applications for certificate of conformity for each model.

Every manufacturer must apply to EPA for and be approved for a certificate of conformity for each model, each year otherwise it is illegal to introduce the cars into commerce. An AECD designed to circumvent emissions test is a defeat device.

More from Volkswagen emissions scandal:

- Volkswagen boss Müller sets out new priorities for recovery

- Volkswagen reports losses in third quarter of 2015

- Are Made-In-India cars affected?

- Group suspends former diesel engine boss

- Company to cut investments by €1 billion per year

- Carmaker's UK boss confirms EU emissions test results were affected

- The routine study that led to the discovery of the VW scandal

- Company chalks out plan to refit cars affected by emission scandal

- 6 things the carmaker could cut

- 11 million vehicles worldwide could be affected