The US government has launched a multi-billion dollar civil law suit against Volkswagen for allegedly cheating on vehicle emissions tests, it has emerged.
The Times reports that the leading car manufacturer could be hit with penalties of up to $22bn through the suit, which was filed in Detroit by the Department of Justice on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency.
VW in the dock over emissions cheating allegations
It is alleged that to enable their cars to cheat environmental tests, VW installed illegal devices in around half a million diesel cars sold in the US.
A senior justice department official told The Times: ‘We are alleging that they knew what they were doing, they intentionally violated the law and that the consequences were significant to health.’
VW admitted last year to the scandal, which involved software in diesel cars that enabled them to cheat emissions tests. As a result it is alleged the cars were potentially emitting harmful nitrogen oxide fumes at up to 40 times the permitted levels, with a further 85,000 three-litre vehicles at nine times the acceptable levels.
Criminal charges against the manufacturer are also still a possibility.
VW told newspapers that it would continue to work with government agencies investigating the matter and would work to develop solutions to bring the cars into compliance ‘as soon as possible’.
