US sues Volkswagen over emissions-software scandal

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department sued Volkswagen on Monday over emissions-cheating software found in nearly 600,000 vehicles sold in the United States.

The civil complaint against the German automaker, filed on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency in U.S. District Court in Detroit, alleges the company illegally installed software designed to make its diesel engines pass U.S. emissions standards while undergoing laboratory testing. The vehicles then switched off those measures to boost performance, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions up to 40 times greater than U.S. environmental standards. “Car manufacturers that fail to properly certify their cars and that defeat emission control systems breach the public trust, endanger public health and disadvantage competitors,” said John Cruden, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Volkswagen first admitted in September that the cheating software was included in its diesel cars and SUVs sold since the 2009 model year. The company is negotiating a massive mandatory recall with U.S. regulators and potentially faces more than $18 billion in fines for violations of the federal Clean Air Act.

The company still could face separate criminal charges while a raft of classaction lawsuits filed by VW owners are pending.

Volkswagen Group of America spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan said Monday the company “will continue to cooperate with all government agencies investigating these matters.”

In past statements, VW executives have sought to blame only a small number of software developers in Germany for the suspect computer code designed to trick emissions tests.

“Car manufacturers that … defeat emission control systems breach the public trust.” John Cruden, of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division