While the aftermath of the emission cheating scandal forced Volkswagen to offer a choice of solutions to its U.S customers, the German company won’t take the same course of action in Europe.
In fact, according to Automotive News, Volkswagen stated that the software used in its diesel vehicles doesn’t violate European laws, in spite being pressured by the European Commission’s to compensate the owners affected by the issue.
“The software contained in vehicles with an EA-189 engine in the view of Volkswagen represents no unlawful defeat device under European law. The efficiency of the emissions cleanup system will not be reduced in those vehicles, which however would be a prerequisite for the existence of an unlawful defeat device in the legal sense,” said Volkswagen.
Moreover, VW reportedly argued that nitrogen oxides aren’t harmful to human health of the environment, contradicting Germany’s Federal Environmental Agency:
“A reliable determination of morbidity or even fatalities for certain demographic groups based on our level of knowledge is not possible from a scientific point of view.”
However, even though the German car maker thinks the software doesn’t break any law, it will still modify the affected cars.
“Volkswagen wants to – in the special interest of customers – cooperate constructively and cooperatively hand in hand with the regulators as well as with the Federal Motor Vehicle Authority. This intensive cooperation should not be burdened by a contentious dispute.”
The affected vehicles emit up to 40 times more NOx in real-world driving, with VW agreeing to spend up to $16.5 billion in connection with the diesel emissions scandal in the U.S. alone.
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