The
Environmental Protection Agency's search for software-based
"defeat devices" will encompass at least 28 diesel-powered
models to determine whether Volkswagen was alone in rigging
emissions tests or the practice is more widespread in the
industry, the FT reported, citing a document the newspaper has
seen. (http://on.ft.com/1VtU6kC)
Reuters reported last month that the EPA and California
officials would test other vehicles for possible "defeat
devices" after announcing that Volkswagen uses software that
turns off emissions controls in cars when driving normally and
turns them on during emissions tests.
The scandal has prompted the EPA to toughen and broaden
emissions tests for all automakers in an effort to thwart any
other cheating activities, a move that could add to industry
costs and higher regulatory hurdles.
The EPA will initially test one used vehicle of each model and
then widen the probe if it uncovers anything suspicious, the
newspaper said, citing a senior agency official close to the
investigation.
The agency is hiring cars from rental agencies or borrowing them
from owners it identifies via vehicle registration databases,
the newspaper said.
The EPA is targeting most of the diesel vehicles on U.S. roads,
including BMW's X3, Chrysler's Grand Cherokee, GM's Chevrolet
Colorado, the Range Rover TDV6 and the Mercedes-Benz E250
BlueTec, the FT said.
Reuters could not immediately reach the EPA for comment outside
regular U.S. business hours.
(Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru; Editing by Anupama
Dwivedi)
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