美國政府就排放門對大衆汽車提起訴訟
Volkswagen’s legal troubles deepened yesterday as the US government filed a lawsuit against it over the emissions test-rigging scandal that threatens to cost the embattled carmaker tens of billions of dollars.
大衆(Volkswagen)昨日進一步深陷法律糾紛。美國政府針對其排放測試作弊醜聞提起法律訴訟，可能使這家陷入困境的汽車製造商面臨數百億美元的罰款。
The complaint leaves the German carmaker facing potential fines of up to $32,500 per vehicle for violations before January 2009 and $37,500 per vehicle for later violations.
這家德國汽車製造商可能要爲2009年1月以前出廠的每輛違規汽車支付高達32500美元的罰款，爲之後出廠的每輛違規車輛支付37500美元的罰款。
The civil lawsuit was filed by the US justice department on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, which exposed VW’s alleged wrong last September.
這起民事訴訟是由美國司法部(US Justice Department)代表去年9月曝光大衆涉嫌不當行爲的美國國家環境保護局(EPA)提起的。
The complaint alleges the group fitted nearly 600,000 VWs, Audis and Porsches with diesel engines that contained illegal “defeat devices” and caused emissions to exceed EPA standards.
訴狀聲稱，大衆爲近60萬輛大衆、奧迪(Audi)和保時捷(Porsche)車輛安裝了包含非法“減效裝置”的柴油發動機，使這些車輛的排放超出美國國家環保局的標準。
John Cruden, head of the justice department’s environment and natural resources division, said: “The United States will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation’s clean air laws.”
美國司法部環境和自然資源司負責人約翰克魯登(John Cruden)表示：“美國將尋求對大衆採取所有適當的法律補救手段，糾正違反我國清潔空氣法的行爲。”
The complaint also says the carmaker broke the law by importing and selling vehicles with designs that differed from the data given to regulators.
訴狀還表示，大衆還進口和銷售在設計上與提交給監管機構的數據有出入的車輛，這也違反了法律。
VW has so far set aside 6.7bn to deal with the projected cost of resolving the problems with the nitrogen oxide emissions controls.
大衆迄今已撥出67億歐元，應對解決氮氧化物排放控制問題預計所需的成本。
Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance at the EPA, said: “With today’s filing, we take an important step to protect public health by seeking to hold Volkswagen accountable for any unlawful air pollution, setting us on a path to resolution.”
美國國家環保局主管執法和合規保證的助理局長辛西婭賈爾斯(Cynthia Giles)表示：“通過提起訴訟，我們邁出了重要的一步，尋求讓大衆爲任何非法污染空氣的行爲負起責任，以求保護公衆的健康，籍此走上解決問題的道路。”
She also revealed the EPA and VW have yet to resolve differences over how to handle vehicles currently on the road that are fitted with the devices.
她還透露，有關如何處理已經上路的安裝了作弊裝置的車輛，美國國家環保局和大衆還未能解決分歧。
“So far, recall discussions with the company have not produced an acceptable way forward. These discussions will continue in parallel with the federal court action,” she said.
她表示：“到目前爲止，和該公司進行的召回討論還未能取得可接受的進展。這些討論將繼續與聯邦法院的行動同時進行。”
The justice department’s action is the latest in a series of legal steps taken by US authorities against VW since Sept 18, when the EPA first it had discovered a “defeat device” to cheat emissions tests in 482,000 VW and Audi vehicles with two-litre diesel engines sold in the US since 2008.
美國司法部的這一舉措是去年9月18日以後美國當局採取的一系列法律措施中的最新行動。當時美國國家環保局首次宣佈，發現2008年後大衆在美國銷售的48.2萬輛2L排量柴油發動機的大衆和奧迪汽車安裝了欺騙排放測試的“減效裝置”。
VW said it would “continue to work closely with the US authorities”.
大衆表示將“繼續和美國有關部門密切合作”。
