Nissan refuses government request on Qashqai emissions

(The Guardian, 23 Jul 2019) Manufacturer told DVSA it would not retrofit polluting vehicles, despite other firms agreeing to modifications.

Nissan’s decision to ignore a government request for emissions modifications to thousands of polluting cars has been branded a scandal by environmental campaigners.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) discovered that the Sunderland-made diesel Qashqai model emits 17 times more nitrogen oxides (NOx) than EU limits allow.

It asked Nissan to retrofit the vehicles to reduce their emissions, as some other manufacturers have, but Nissan told the DVSA it was “not possible to do a recalibration for existing customers” because it wants “to focus energy and resources on the new models”.

“We find Nissan’s approach on addressing these extremely high-emitting vehicles unacceptable,” said a DVSA statement, pointing out that Renault, which uses a similar engine to the one used in the Qashqai, would be offering engine modifications to customers.

Similarly, Vauxhall is to make free adjustments to all of the diesel Astras it has sold across the EU, including almost 14,000 sold in the UK.

“Diesel car manufacturers have never been held to account for contributing to the illegal and harmful levels of air pollution in the UK,” said Andrea Lee, part of the clean air team at campaign group ClientEarth.

External link

The Guardian, 23 Jul 2019: Nissan refuses government request on Qashqai emissions