Number of car companies involved in emissions scandal continue to increase

Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi and Mazda have also been found violating emissions regulations after Volkswagen suffered the same recently.

According to the Guardian, the diesel cars manufactured by the above-mentioned automobile companies emit much more pollution on the road compared to what they show in regulatory tests in the U.S. The data collected revealed that Honda emits Nitrogen Oxides, or NOx, six times more than the allowed limit for cars in the regulatory tests. There are also some other models, which exceed the limit significantly recording 20 times the actual regulatory limit of NOx emissions.

NOx emissions directly affect the human health, causing premature deaths and enhanced cost of healthcare. “The issue is a systemic one,” and it sustained throughout the automobile industry, Emissions Analytics premier Nick Molden told The Guardian.

Emissions Analytics that had tested the cars before exposing it on the roadways provided the required data to The Guardian, which depicted that Mercedes-Benz emitted Nox 2.2 times more than what had been permitted at the regulatory tests. Honda and Mercedes, however, told the paper they work according to the pollution regulations and follow the tight emissions rules.

Last week, it was learnt that Renault, Citroen, Nissan, Fiat, Volvo, Hyundai and Jeep all emitted more NOx in realistic driving scenario that was significantly more than the expected limit. In many portions of the U.K., emission of NOx is prohibited, and it might invite legal actions in case the level exceeded.

According to Transport and Environment emissions expert Greg Archer, the only possible way of ensuring emissions limit remain within the allowed range is to get the tests done on the roads by companies that are not paid by the automobile organisations and are not partial in any way.

In an article published in The Conversation, Professor of Management and Organisation Studies Carl Rhodes has shown his doubt on the policy of “good ethics is good business,” which has lost charm in recent business scenarios. In September, Volkswagen had to face charges regarding installing a device that depicted lesser emission, thereby hiding the actual emissions caused.

Also, 7-Eleven Australia suffered from allegations of underpaying workers and making them work for beyond-the-limit hours. “What do these cases have in common? Each one suggests there was an ethos in place in these corporations that held that ‘bad ethics is good business,’” he said.

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