Volkswagen charged with violating vehicle emission standards in Canada

Volkswagen AG on Monday was charged with importing almost 128,000 vehicles into Canada by contradicting the country’s environmental legislation, a Canadian government agency stated.

The German automaker was charged with 60 counts for the violation of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act by importing vehicles that did not conform to prescribed emission standards, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) stated.

The charges included two counts of giving false information. The court hearing is scheduled for December 13 in the Ontario Court of Justice.

A Volkswagen spokesman stated the company has cooperated completely with the investigation by the ECCC.

“At the hearing, the parties will file for the Court’s consideration a proposed plea resolution and seek its approval,” he added.

In 2015, the agency carried out an investigation into the importing of certain vehicle models reportedly geared up with a prohibited “defeat device”.

In this case, the device was software that decreases the effectiveness of the emission control system during normal vehicle use, as per the agency.

News in 2015 that Volkswagen had used such devices to evade emissions tests has so far cost the company no less than 30 billion euros ($33 billion) in fines, vehicle refits, and legal costs, and also caused a global backlash against diesel vehicles.