Thousands of cars could be recalled in a new ‘dieselgate’ emissions scandal that could impact Britons across the country.
As part of a Department for Transport (DfT) investigation, a total of 47 different models from 11 manufacturers are suspected of being more polluting than previously thought.
It is understood that around twenty car brands have been affected, with the exact affected models having been kept secret until now, reports The times.
The news comes nine years after Volkswagen’s ‘dieselgate’ scandal, which saw the German carmaker install ‘cheat devices’ in diesel models to trick official tests into registering lower emissions levels.
Environmental law group ClientEarth filed a legal complaint with ministers last year to find out how many cars from other manufacturers could have these devices in Britain, with between two and six million cars now feared to have the ‘defeat device’ will have.
The DfT has now launched the first phase of its investigation into the car brands following a freedom of information request from ClientEarth.
Thousands of cars could be recalled in a new ‘dieselgate’ emissions scandal that could impact Britons across the country. (stock image)
It comes amid fears the vehicles were causing increased air pollution across the UK (file image)
The department will now look at the number of ‘prohibited defeat devices’ in diesel cars registered between September 2009 and 2019.
And while the opening phase of the investigation is limited to 47 models, research has suggested that there may be at least 200 more compromised car models being used on UK roads.
Should the investigation lead to a series of massive recalls, carmakers would be left to foot the bill, potentially leading to job losses within the sector – while drivers would also be expected to receive compensation.
In 2022, Volkswagen agreed to pay £193 million to more than 90,000 British drivers following the 2015 scandal.
According to reports, transport chiefs are now trying to find out how much extra air pollution has been caused as a result of the use of additional ‘cheat devices’.
A defeat device is a type of hardware or software design that interferes with a vehicle’s emissions controls under real driving conditions.
A DfT spokesperson said: ‘Defeat devices are illegal, misleading to drivers and can have negative consequences for the health of the public.
“We routinely and robustly monitor vehicles for emissions standards and have taken swift action to initiate an investigation into this. We will work with industry to resolve any issues identified.”
The spokesperson added that cars are considered to have such a device if a “design element” “reduces the effectiveness of the emissions control system under conditions that could reasonably be expected under normal use and operation of the vehicle.”
It is estimated that air pollution kills up to 38,000 people a year in England.
Lawyer Emily Kearsey, who works with ClientEarth, said air pollution was the ‘biggest threat to public health in Britain’ and excess vehicle emissions were contributing to the crisis.
She warned that the “invisible killer” could shorten people’s lives while ruining their quality of life. Reports from the DfT show that non-compliant vehicles ‘will require remedial action’ and that ‘all cases of non-compliance will be addressed’.
The ‘dieselgate’ scandal was first exposed in 2015 when it emerged that Volkswagen had installed software designed to cheat official tests (stock image)
In 2022, Volkswagen agreed to pay £193 million to more than 90,000 British drivers following the 2015 scandal (pictured is a file image of someone filling up a car with diesel)
ClientEarth has now urged transport secretary Louise Haigh to act urgently and ‘not bow to the interests of car manufacturers’.
It comes as car trade chiefs admitted they were considering what action to take following the latest Dieselgate allegations.
Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: ‘We are aware of a decision by the European Court of Justice that the existing certification of vehicles approved for sale by governments across Europe for a number of years has called into question. years and are working with the Department to understand what, if any, implications this may have for Britain.”
Currently, the government is unable to implement a nationwide vehicle recall, despite the Environment Bill 2021 being introduced to create such laws.
According to the Money Savings Expert, drivers may be eligible for compensation if they purchased the engine without knowing about the alleged emissions defects.
Drivers may also be eligible if they have had a car or van repaired to meet emissions standards and the repair itself has resulted in ‘worse fuel economy or performance’, potentially reducing its value or incurring additional costs.