In a statement to the House of Commons, secretary of state for transport Patrick McLoughlin said that, apart from demanding that VW does everything necessary to protect UK customers, the government is moving swiftly to carry out its own thorough and independent investigations.
Those investigations are examining whether defeat device usage goes wider than the VW group, but are also aimed at improving the understanding of vehicles’ real world emission performance in order to push the EU towards a real world testing regime.
“The UK testing body, the Vehicle Certification Agency, has secured assurance from all automotive manufacturers outside VW for whom it has issued emissions type approvals that defeat devices have not been used,” said McLoughlin.
“We will of course be testing this for ourselves. We have already retested VW vehicles for which the UK provided type approval. These initial tests provide valuable information, improving our ability to detect a defeat device,” he continued.
“We have also begun a wider testing programme to understand the real world emissions performance of a broader selection of vehicles in the UK. This is crucial to improve the accuracy of environmental assessments – used for both air quality management and infrastructure investment.”
McLoughlin said that he has now secured agreement from his opposite number in Germany that UK and German technical teams will work together to reduce duplication and ensure that the widest range of vehicles are retested.
“Alongside this, we have succeeded in reaching an agreement with the European Commission and member states that represents a step change in the way in which testing is carried out,” he added.
“For the first time, real world testing will be part of the regulatory regime from 2017. This is an important milestone, but we will continue to press for EU level action towards a comprehensive approach to emissions testing, to restore consumer confidence and deliver our wider air quality and climate objectives.”