General Motors (GM) has reportedly been asked to pay the government over $146 million in penalties due to 5.9 million of its older vehicles not complying with emissions and fuel sandards.
According to the report by AP and WMAR Baltimore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that specific GM vehicles from the 2012 to 2018 model years failed to meet federal fuel economy standards.
The EPA found that GM pickup trucks and SUVs emit over 10 percent more CO2 than initially claimed. These vehicles take in at least 10 percent more fuel than stated on window stickers but won't be repaired or have their MPG ratings adjusted.
"Our investigation has achieved accountability and upholds an important program that's reducing air pollution and protecting communities across the country," said EPA administrator Michael Regan.
"We believe this voluntary action is the best course of action to resolve the outstanding issues with the federal government," said GM spokesman Bill Grotz.
GM stated that it complied with all pollution and mileage regulations and denied any wrongdoing or violations of the Clean Air Act. According to Grotz, the issue arose from a testing procedure implemented by the EPA in 2016.
Around 5.9 million GM vehicles will be affected by this enforcement, including the Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, and Chevy Silverado. GM will forfeit credits used to meet emission standards, with an estimated resolution cost of $490 million.
Despite GM's claim that the issue comes from a 2016 EPA testing change, critics David Cooke and Dan Becker argue that the company should have known about the pollution discrepancy and emphasized the need for strict pollution rules.
