Mexican Media Brands
EC Says BMW, Daimler, VW Blocked Emission Tech
The European Commission has charged BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen’s VW, Audi and Porsche units with colluding to hinder the introduction of advanced pollution control equipment.
#legal
Share
The European Commission has charged BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen’s VW, Audi and Porsche units with colluding to hinder the introduction of advanced pollution control equipment.
The so-called “circle of five” are suspected of conspiring between 2006 and 2014 to limit the development of technologies to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from diesels and particulates from gasoline engines.
In the case of NOx, the companies agreed to limit the designs of the urea injection systems they used to control emissions from diesels, according to the EC. It says they limited the size of the urea tanks they installed and reduced the refill interval. The resulting restrictions lowered the effectiveness of the urea dosing system.
The EC says the manufacturers also colluded to avoid or delay the introduction of Otto particulate filter that would lower the level of harmful particles from gasoline cars equipped with direct injection fuel systems.
Such behavior violates the European Union’s competition laws. The EC notes that the companies are being investigated separately for possible breaches of EU pollution regulations.
RELATED CONTENT
-
U.S. Probes Possible Bosch Role in VW Diesel Scandal
The U.S. Dept. of Justice is investigating whether Robert Bosch GmbH aided Volkswagen AG in cheating on diesel emission tests, sources tell Reuters.
-
Court Ruling Exposes GM to Punitive Damages Over Ignition Switches
A new ruling by the federal judge who presided over General Motors Corp.’s 2009 bankruptcy could expose post-bankruptcy General Motors Co. to a wave of costly punitive damage awards linked to the company’s defective ignition switches.
-
Four Auto Companies Rank Among the World's Most Ethical
GM and Cooper Standard make the list for the first time, joining long-running honorees Aptiv and Cummins