Word on the street: are they all doing it? – rumours are that other car manufacturing companies like Volkswagen are in some way ‘cheating’ emissions tests

After the recent car emissions scandal from Volkswagen, it seemed like things could not get any worse for the car manufacturing companies who have come under heavy scrutiny as others are accused of following suit, and perhaps even cheating the system.

Well, reports are finding that car manufacturers like Fiat and Suzuki may be emitting far more emissions than they should be doing. Renault and Nissan have also come under scrutiny as well, and this is off the back of Mitsubishi already admitting to bending the rules, and the likes of Opel being criticised for ways in which they may have used the rules to get around emissions restrictions.

Above and beyond the norm…

A study undertaken by Transport and Environment, who are campaigners for smarter and cleaner transport in Europe, claims that all diesel car manufacturers in Europe are all polluting way more than they should be and are all non-compliant with the current ‘Euro 6’ air emission limits.

This is a huge concern – we all have a responsibility to reduce pollutants, yet the rules are proving not to be effective at all.

When will they properly regulate and enforce?

Fiat and Suzuki were found to be the highest polluters with a rate of 15 times more than the legal emissions limit. With this in mind, European governments and regulators must press car manufacturers to do more in their fight against the vehicles that are releasing toxic emissions which grossly pollute our environment and directly harm our health.

Better regulation and testing is the only way we can reduce and, eventually, successfully regulate the amount of nitrogen oxide that is emitted from these vehicles. To do so would enhance the cleanliness of our air and restore faith in the car manufacturers. Regulators must utilise powers to enforce punishments if car manufacturers do not comply with the regulations. Without the enforcement from governmental bodies and the European Union, we may never see lower emissions.

The reason for governmental bodies to overlook and under-regulate the matter could be simple: it could be to protect their businesses and economy. National authorities must approve the car manufacturers’ vehicles before it is placed on the market. Some approval authorities like KBA in Germany seem to have, arguably, prevented stricter sanctions. It is common knowledge that these types of approval businesses are competitive and most certainly profitable, and reportedly are protected under the guide of “national interests”. Greg Archer, the clean vehicles director at Transport and Environment, considers the national regulators turning a blind eye to be the “true scandal” (www.transportenvironment.org/press/dieselgate-1st-anniversary-all-diesel-car-brands-europe-are-even-more-polluting-volkswagen).

Many commentators compared this situation with the U.S., where VW quickly offered compensation to their American customers, and praised the effectiveness of their federal governments to impose fines on VW.

Governmental bodies around the world – specifically European bodies – should seek to be proactive and not reactive. Recalling vehicles from the road is one solution to the harm caused, but it is regulations, enforcement and a mind-set away from business that will be the most effective means of managing the polluted air.