Virginia is joining 28 other Attorneys General from states across the country to investigate Volkswagen’s conduct on behalf on consumers.
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News of the subpoena and state attorneys general participating in the group so far comes two days after New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said a group was forming to probe the carmaker over the USA emissions test scandal.
“Misleading auto owners and cheating clean air rules are serious allegations, and my office is investigating to ensure fair treatment for affected North Carolina consumers”, Cooper said in a written release. Volkswagen has admitted that it intentionally installed software programmed to switch engines to a cleaner mode during official emissions testing.
The multi-state investigation will examine misrepresentations and deceptions regarding the 11 million diesel vehicles which were allegedly equipped with software that could be used to cheat on emissions tests. The EPA estimates that 482,000 of the vehicles are in the U.S.
Chief executive Martin Winterkorn has apologised but has given no undertaking to resign. “We take these allegations, and their potential implications for public health and air pollution in the U.S., very seriously”.
“No company should be allowed to evade our environmental laws or promise consumers a fake…”
Jeannine Ginivan, a Volkswagen spokeswoman, didn’t immediately return a call and e-mail seeking comment.
Volkswagen has admitted to fixing it so its diesel vehicles would pass emissions tests. Washington, D.C., also is involved.
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James Hallinan, a spokesman for New Mexico attorney general Hector Balderas, said it hadn’t been decided which states will lead the investigation.
