Toyota was fined $180 million to settle claims that the company failed to comply with the US Clean Air Act for a decade.
The DoJ says that Toyota conducted “systematic, longstanding violations of Clean Air Act emission-related defect reporting requirements, which require manufacturers to report potential defects and recalls affecting vehicle components designed to control emissions.”
In the US, the Air Act regulates air pollution such as the number of permissible pollutants in the air such as NO produced by vehicles sold in the country. Automakers are required to notify the Environmental Protection Agency when more than 25 vehicles or engines have a defect related to emissions standards.
Manufacturers must file an Emissions Defect Information Report (EDIR), as well as update the agency on progress in fixing problems, which the DoJ says Toyota failed to do so.
This mandatory reporting is requisite for protecting the environment and human health. They encourage manufacturers to investigate and voluntarily address defects that may result in the emission of hazardous gases above the permissible level.
The complaint was filed in Manhattan federal court, accusing Toyota of allegedly failing to keep up with the ired air quality emitted by its automobiles since 2005-2015.
