European lawmakers voted to tighten vehicle emissions controls

European politicians on Wednesday voted to accelerate the process of tightening rules for compliance with pollution limits for cars after US regulators caught Volkswagen AG tampering with vehicle performance tests. VW could be fined $ 18 billion for cheating on emissions levels.

The executive body of the European Union, having worked for many years, has tried to close loopholes in the testing procedures for new vehicles. As a result, a law has been proposed that will provide a “real world of testing” and can close the gap between emissions in laboratory conditions and what actually happens on the road.

The Environmental Policy Committee of the European Parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of the amendments to speed up the process and hold an open debate, saying that a real emissions test procedure should be ready by 2017. The Greens said they have proposed an amendment to increase legislative changes to tighten environmental standards.

Volkswagen admitted on Tuesday that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide contain software that can evade emissions control, and more than 482,000 vehicles have been identified by US authorities as violating clean air laws.

Volkswagen AG is experiencing a stock glitch after a US admission that its emissions tests have been rigged. Volkswagen shares fell for the third day in a row as the automaker struggled to contain an expansion of the emissions scandal.

Volkswagen's share price fell 4 percent to € 101.75 at the start of trading in Frankfurt on Wednesday. The decline was the next decline after falling 17 percent and 20 percent in the first two days of the trading week.
Perhaps for 7 years, VW software has deliberately violated clean air standards. Volkswagen says dealerships will stop selling 2015 diesel vehicles. An investigation is underway in Europe and the United States.