4 carmakers join emissions rigging list: Guardian

Mercedes-Benz, Honda, (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 7267.T-JP)Mazda (Bombay Stock Exchange: 523792-BY)and Mitsubishi (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 7211.T-JP)have joined the growing list of carmakers whose diesel cars are more polluting than allowed under current regulatory limits, according to data obtained by the Guardian.

"In more realistic on-road tests, some Honda models emitted six times the regulatory limit of NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) pollution while some unnamed 4x4 models had 20 times the NOx limit coming out of their exhaust pipes," the U.K. newspaper said.

It cited Nick Molden, whose company Emissions Analytics tested the cars as saying: "The issue is a systemic one" across the industry.

The new data is from Emissions Analytics' on-the-road testing program, which is carefully controlled and closely matches the real-world test the European commission wants to introduce.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accused VW in September of cheating on its emission tests for it diesel powered cars. The German auto giant has since acknowledged that it installed software known as "defeat devices" in diesel vehicles issued between 2009 and 2015.

There are increasing fears that Volkswagen's problem could quickly turn into one for the entire carmaking industry.

Read the full Guardian story here.

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