Department of Transport vows to rerun laboratory tests on engines and compare results with on-the-road emissions
The British government is to start its own inquiry into car emissions and testing, running new lab tests on engines from across the industry and comparing the results with on-the-road emissions.
The Vehicle Certification Agency, a division of the Department for Transport, will work with manufacturers across the industry as it reruns tests in the wake of the VW test-rigging scandal. The government also called on the European commission to launch a Europe-wide investigation into the car industry.
The transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: “The government takes the unacceptable actions of VW extremely seriously. My priority is to protect the public as we go through the process of investigating what went wrong and what we can do to stop it happening again in the future.
“We have called on the EU to conduct a Europe-wide investigation into whether there is evidence that cars here have been fitted with defeat devices. In the meantime we are taking robust action.”
Porsche boss Matthias Müller is expected to be named as the new boss of VW following the departure of Martin Winterkorn on Wednesday.
Winterkorn, meanwhile, is expected to qualify for a €1m (£740,000) annual pension and could also be in line for a €3.2m payoff. Winterkorn’s salary of €1.6m was topped up to nearly €16m last year as a result of bonuses and loyalty payments.
Pressure had been growing on the UK government to take action, with the transport select committee calling on McLoughlin to explain his position. The committee of MPs is ready to launch its own inquiry into the VW scandal and its wider lessons for testing. It is likely to summon ministers and VW executives in Britain for questioning.
Louise Ellman, committee chair, said: “I’m glad that [McLoughlin] is taking action – but it’s only a start. There are severe question marks against the independence of the testing system. Action must be taken to give the public confidence in the regime.”
The environmental law organisation ClientEarth, which earlier this year won a supreme court ruling that the UK was in breach of its obligations to ensure compliance with nitrogen dioxide, has written to the DfT to release all information held on the true emissions performance of cars licensed for sale on UK roads. It warned that the scandal gave serious concerns over implications for air quality in the UK, and accused the government of failing to take appropriate action to investigate the situation.
Alan Andrews, air pollution lawyer at ClientEarth, welcomed what he termed the DfT’s “humiliating U-turn”, but added: “We are still concerned testing could be carried out by the Vehicle Certification Agency - a government agency which gets funding from the motor industry.
“We will be seeking reassurances that any investigation is quick, independent and 100% transparent.”
Concerns over true pollution levels have also spread to fuel consumption, with the consumer group Which? having long reported discrepancies between official miles per gallon test figures and its own results, with the VW Golf being the second-worst offender in its research.
The German car giant could soon face a raft of claims from British car owners, according to top law firms.
Several firms reported a rush of inquiries from drivers who may seek compensation after paying a premium price for a cleaner vehicle, before the German carmaker admitted installing software to cheat emissions tests.
Bozena Michalowska-Howells, a lawyer at Leigh Day said: “If it emerges that these cars in the UK passed tests because of this software then this is not only a breach of contract but a flagrant breach of EU emissions regulations.
“In the last two days we have been inundated by Volkswagen owners who bought these vehicles specifically because of their alleged reduced fuel emissions and who are outraged by the company’s actions. They are looking to form a group action.”
The likelihood of claims was heightened on Thursday when the German transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt, confirmed that Volkswagen vehicles containing such defeat devices were sold across Europe.
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:57 pm
