Volkswagen Charged With Violating Vehicle Emission Rules in Canada

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Volkswagen Group can’t seem to escape the rippling effects of its 2015 emissions cheating scandal. It wasn’t long ago that the automaker was subjected to surprise raids from German prosecutors, still investigating its regulatory malfeasance. On Monday, Canada threw its hat into the ring — charging the company with importing roughly 128,000 vehicles into the country in direct violation of its environmental laws.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) announced VW is facing 60 counts of breaching the Canadian Environmental Protection Act by selling automobiles that fell outside the prescribed emission standards. Broken down, that includes 58 counts of contravening the law between 2008 and 2015 with two counts of providing misleading information.

A court hearing is scheduled for December 13th in the Ontario Court of Justice. Volkswagen said it intends to cooperate fully with the investigation by the ECCC. “At the hearing, the parties will submit for the Court’s consideration a proposed plea resolution and seek its approval,” a spokesperson explained.

From the ECCC:

In September 2015, Environment and Climate Change Canada launched an investigation into the importation into Canada of certain models of vehicles allegedly equipped with a prohibited “defeat device”, which in this case, is software that reduces the effectiveness of the emission control system during normal vehicle operation and use.

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers conducted a very comprehensive, thorough and meticulous investigation. Officers gathered an extraordinary quantity of evidence and information from foreign and domestic sources related to the suspected violations of federal environmental legislation. This involved collecting all relevant information possible, while working within different international legal environments. They then spent months poring over the information, analyzing and preparing the evidence for Public Prosecution Service of Canada review.

Thus far, VW has shelled out over $30 billion to settle fines, vehicle repairs, buybacks, and associated legal costs. Quite a bit of that went to the United States, which managed to push the automaker through the legal process more swiftly than other nations. But Germany continues to ramp up its investigation into the automaker, targeting specific staffers, and countless civil suits remain unsettled.

Those in Europe have been dragging, with VW trying to reframe the defeat devices as software-based emission fixes gone awry. However, Canada managed to snag two victories in 2017 when dual settlements were reached on behalf of customers who purchased affected 2.0 and 3.0-liter diesel units from Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. The company has since promised to do better, placing a strong focus on electrification.

[Image: Villorejo/Shutterstock]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Dec 10, 2019

    "Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers conducted a very comprehensive, thorough and meticulous investigation." Sure, but what took 4+ years?

    • See 1 previous
    • Thejohnnycanuck Thejohnnycanuck on Dec 10, 2019

      Justine Trudeau was getting his hair done. Rumour has it that also takes half the national budget.

  • Dukeisduke Dukeisduke on Dec 11, 2019

    Technically it's advanced, but with the front styling they've doubled (okay, tripled, if you include the Silverado HD) down on ugly. The IRS is a completely different setup from what Ford uses on the Expedition, so I wonder what advantages their setup offers over the Expedition. Less camber change maybe? One of things that keeps me away from GM products ids the Chinesium content, and the cheap parts. Speaking of Chinesium, where's DeadWeight?

  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
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