Auto maker Volkswagen is hitting the headlines again. US regulators have accused the German car giant of cheating a second time on emissions tests.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has included Porsche, Audi and VW 4x4 cars into its new investigation, which affects at least 10,000 vehicles. The regulator claims that cars with 3.0 litre engines from the years 2014 to 2016 were affected, reported BBC.
"VW has once again failed its obligation to comply with the law that protects clean air for all Americans," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for the office for EPA's Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in a statement on the EPA's website.
"All companies should be playing by the same rules. EPA, with our state, and federal partners, will continue to investigate these serious matters, to secure the benefits of the Clean Air Act, ensure a level playing field for responsible businesses, and to ensure consumers get the environmental performance they expect."
The models under investigation include the 3-cylinder diesel engine versions of the 2014 Volkswagen Touareg, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and the 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5, reported the Independent.
VW has, however, denied that the vehicles have software designed to cheat tests. The automaker instead said that the cars with the 3.0 litre diesel V6 engines had a software function which had not been adequately described in the application process.
"Volkswagen AG wishes to emphasize that no software has been installed in the 3-liter V6 diesel power units to alter emissions characteristics in a forbidden manner," the company said in a statement.
The auto maker said it was cooperating completely with the EPA to "clarify the matter".
In September, Volkswagen admitted to the EPA that cars from the model years 2009 to 2015 contained software designed to cheat emissions tests. Around 11 million cars were found to be affected, with eight million in Europe alone. This led US regulators to conduct further tests designed to detect such defeat devices.
The company's chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigned from his post in late September as the scandal came into light.
