Volkswagen's admitted thwarting of Environmental Protection Agency regulations is threatening to ensnare BMW.
According to Germany's AutoBild, citing research from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), the company's X3 xDrive28d is also emitting up to 11 times more than Europe's legal amounts of pollution. The ICCT is the organization whose findings initiated the investigation into Volkswagen's deceit regarding the environmental impact of its TDI engines.
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If true, those figures would definitely put the small SUV in violation of the United States' more stringent requirements. No issues were found with the other BMW models tested, and BMW has so far denied any wrongdoing and is currently seeking clarification about the results of the ICCT tests in question. Below is a statement from the automaker:
The BMW Group does not manipulate or rig any emissions tests. We observe the legal requirements in each country and fulfill all local testing requirements.
In other words, our exhaust treatment systems are active whether rolling on the test bench or driving on the road.
Clear, binding specifications and processes are in place through all phases of development at the BMW Group in order to avoid wrongdoing.
Two studies carried out by the ICCT have confirmed that the BMW X5 and 13 other BMW vehicles tested comply with the legal requirements concerning NOx emissions. No discrepancies were found in the X5 between laboratory-test and field-test NOx emissions.
We are not familiar with the test results mentioned by AutoBild on 24 September concerning the emissions of a BMW X3 during a road test. No specific details of the test have yet been provided and therefore we cannot explain these results. We are contacting the ICCT and asking for clarification of the test they carried out.
We are willing to discuss our testing procedures with the relevant authorities and to make our vehicles available for testing at any time.
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