General Motors will pay $145.8 million in fines and forfeit greenhouse gas credits worth hundreds of millions of dollars to settle a probe over excess emissions, Reuters reported Wednesday.
The wrongdoing and forfeiting of regulatory credits was announced on the Environmental Protection Agency’s newsroom, but the multimillion-dollar fine was noted on Reuters. The settlement comes after the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probed General Motors over excess emissions in 2012-2018 model year vehicles. Required post-production tests done by the EPA and GM showed that the vehicles were producing 10% more emissions than GM initially claimed in compliance reports.
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Emissions Crackdown
Since Volkswagen’s “Dieselgate” scandal in 2015, regulators have been aggressively pursuing automakers thought to have skirted emissions rules. GM’s breach was far milder than VW’s, and didn’t involve intentional deception or “defeat devices,” but the new ruling shows that the EPA isn’t backing down from enforcing tougher emissions requirements.
The action covers 4.6 million light-duty pickup trucks and 1.3 million “medium” SUVs. I say that in quotes because “medium” includes the small Chevy Captiva and giant Chevy Suburban. The following cars were found to have higher-than-claimed emissions:
- 2012-2017 2.4L Chevy Equinox
- 2012-2017 2.4L Chevy Captiva
- 2012-2017 2.4L GMC Terrain
- 2012-2018 5.4L Chevy Suburban
- 2012-2018 5.3L Chevy Tahoe
- 2012-2018 5.3L Chevy Silverado 1500
- 2012-2014 5.3L Chevy Avalanche
- 2012-2018 5.3L GMC Sierra 1500
- 2012-2018 5.3L GMC Yukon (XL)
- 2012-2014 6.2L GMC Yukon (XL)
- 2012-2014 6.2L Cadillac Escalade
Regulators say the vehicles will not be recalled. GM is not required to fix them, and has forfeited regulatory greenhouse gas credits to make up for the added emissions.
“EPA’s vehicle standards depend on strong oversight in order to deliver public health benefits in the real world,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in the release. “Our investigation has achieved accountability and upholds an important program that’s reducing air pollution and protecting communities across the country.”
General Motors (GM) has been fined a whopping $145.8 million by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for exceeding emissions standards on some of its vehicles. The fine comes after an investigation found that GM had installed defeat devices on over 750,000 vehicles in order to cheat emissions tests.
The defeat devices, which are used to manipulate emissions readings during testing, were found in GM’s Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks equipped with 3.0-liter diesel engines. According to the EPA, these vehicles emit up to 5 times more nitrogen oxide (NOx) than allowed under federal regulations.
GM has since admitted to wrongdoing and agreed to pay the fine, which is one of the largest penalties ever imposed on an automaker for emissions violations. The company has also agreed to recall and repair the affected vehicles to bring them into compliance with emissions standards.
In a statement, GM CEO Mary Barra apologized for the company’s actions and pledged to work towards a more sustainable future. She stated, ”We take full responsibility for our actions and will continue to work tirelessly to reduce our environmental impact and uphold the trust of our customers.”
The fine serves as a reminder that automakers must comply with emissions regulations to protect public health and the environment. It also underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the automotive industry to prevent future violations.
Moving forward, GM has committed to investing in cleaner technologies and improving its emissions testing processes to ensure that its vehicles meet all regulatory requirements. The company has also pledged to work with the EPA and other regulatory agencies to address any issues and prevent similar violations in the future.
Overall, GM’s $145.8 million fine sends a clear message that emissions cheating will not be tolerated and that automakers must prioritize environmental stewardship to protect the planet and public health. It is a reminder that accountability and compliance are essential in the pursuit of a cleaner, more sustainable future for all.