WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The US state of New York's chief legal officer said Tuesday he launched an investigation into German automaker Volkswagen for falsifying its vehicle emission test results.
"My office is investigating troubling reports that millions of Volkswagen cars carried software designed to cheat emissions tests that protect our environment," New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused the car manufacturer on Friday of circumventing clean air standards by installing devices on its cars enabling them to cheat emission tests.
"No company should be allowed to evade our environmental laws or promise consumers a fake bill of goods," Schneiderman added.
EPA estimated ensuing fines against Volkswagen could reach $18 billion as the company itself set aside $7.2 billion on necessary service measures and damage control.
