Hino Motors Reaches $1.6 Billion Settlement Over Emissions Deceptive Practices
U.S. authorities announced a substantial settlement involving Hino Motors, a subsidiary of Toyota, amounting to $1.6 billion. This agreement comes in response to allegations that Hino misled regulators regarding the emissions levels of its diesel engines.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hino manipulated emissions test data to gain approval for the importation and sale of over 110,000 diesel engines in the United States. The majority of these engines were utilized in heavy-duty trucks manufactured by Hino.
As part of the settlement, Hino has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal conspiracy charge, which includes misleading regulatory bodies and consumers, as well as violating environmental protection laws that jeopardize public health, as stated by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The settlement, which encompasses both criminal and civil penalties, has been coordinated with U.S. regulators and the state of California, known for its stringent vehicular emission standards. Acting EPA Administrator Jane Nishida emphasized that Hino's actions significantly undermined the EPA's efforts to safeguard the public from air pollution.
This proposed settlement is pending approval from a U.S. district court in Michigan. The repercussions for Hino include a five-year probation period, during which the company will be prohibited from importing diesel engines it has manufactured into the U.S. Furthermore, Hino is required to establish a comprehensive compliance and ethics program.
Moreover, the agreement mandates Hino to recall certain trucks equipped with engines that do not meet emissions standards, alongside an investment of approximately $155 million to replace marine and locomotive engines across the U.S. to compensate for excess air emissions.
This case reflects ongoing scrutiny of automotive companies regarding compliance with environmental regulations, and serves as a stark warning against corporate malpractice in emissions reporting.
