Volkswagen fined with US$8.9 million in Mexico

The Office of the Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) sanctioned Volkswagen Mexico with US$8.9 million (189 million pesos) for the marketing of 45,494 new cars without their corresponding certificate of environmental compliance

The fine focuses on the importing and marketing of Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Seat and Volkswagen branded vehicles in Mexico.

In an inspection conducted last December, Profepa found that VW imported and marketed the 2016-model vehicles without the certificate.

The Mexican Official Standard (NOM) sets a maximum permissible limit for the emission of pollutants emitted by vehicles fueled with gasoline, natural and diesel under certain specs for weight not exceeding 3,857 kilograms. The automotive companies must demonstrate that their units fully comply with the limits in order to be marketed in Mexico.

Propefa noted that the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources and the Mexican Oil Institute are currently checking the environmental performance of the diesel vehicles marketed by Volkswagen Mexico between 2009 and 2015, after alterations on their software came to light last year, unleashing a scandal of deep repercussions for the company in North America.