The Environmental Protection Agency told automakers Friday, Sept. 25, its plan to road test all new car models and even cars already on the road, in a bid to meticulously check the vehicles' emissions.
The agency's move is in response to the Volkswagen emissions scandal exposed not too long ago. Volkswagen admittedly employed a sophisticated software to cheat on emissions tests on 482,000 diesel automobiles distributed in the United States. The car maker previously stated the software might be on possibly 11 million Volkswagen and Audi vehicles across the globe.
The statement of the EPA was made in a letter delivered to car manufacturers, indicating it will not depend entirely on laboratory testing to ensure the cars' emission performance.
"Per the regulations of 40 CFR §86.1809, EPA may test or require testing on any vehicle at a designated location, using driving cycles and conditions that may reasonably be expected to be encountered in normal operation and use, for the purposes of investigating a potential defeat device," reads the letter [pdf] with the subject "EPA Conducted Confirmatory Testing." "Such testing can be expected in addition to the standard emissions test cycles when Emissions Data Vehicles (EDV), and Fuel Economy Data Vehicles (FEDV) are tested by EPA."
The announcement arrived on the day that the board of Volkswagen designated Porsche brand chief Matthias Mueller as the new CEO. Martin Winterkorn, former chief executive of Volkswagen since 2007, resigned on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Apart from the recent controversy the automaker is dealing with, Mueller may face quite a few issues, including managing investigations, expunging corruption, repairing the 11 million affected vehicles, and more.
"My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group—by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation," said Mueller. "Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do everything it can to develop and implement the most stringent compliance and governance standards in our industry."
Volkswagen said it would allocate $7 billion in the company's third-quarter accounts to cover the expenses of the company on the recent controversy, the biggest yet in its 78-year history.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the EPA further warned automakers that the process may add more time to secure a certification to sell new cars in the U.S.
