GM will pay $146 million fine because 5.9 million older vehicles emit excess carbon dioxide

General Motors (GM) has been fined $146 million by the federal government for non-compliance with emissions and fuel economy standards. This fine is due to 5.9 million of their vehicles, models from 2012 through 2018, emitting excess carbon dioxide. Notable models include the Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, and Chevy Silverado.

These vehicles released 10% more carbon dioxide than GM initially claimed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which conducted the testing, identified 4.6 million full-size pickups and SUVs and 1.3 million midsize SUVs as part of this violation.

Despite the findings, GM maintains that they likeIchilnged all pollution and mileage certification regulations correctly, insisting on no wrongdoing in relation to the Clean Air Act. As part of its penalty, GM will give up several emissions credits to ensure their fleet meets greenhouse gas emissions standards moving forward.

David Cooke, a senior vehicles analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, reacted skeptically to GM's stance: "You don’t just make a more than 10% rounding error,” hinting at deliberate fault. Dan Becker from the Center for Biological Diversity emphasized the significance of stringent pollution rules following this incident saying, "Show why automakers can’t be trusted to protect our air and health."

The issue comes at a time when EPA's authority is diminished following a Supreme Court decision rejecting the Chevron Doctrine. The legal milestone shifts regulatory powers back towards the courts from executive agencies.

Historically similar cases have seen companies like Hyundai and Kia face actions from the Justice Department for related pollution violations.

Source: AP