WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors will pay nearly $146 million in penalties to the federal government because 5.9 million of its older vehicles do not comply with emissions and fuel economy standards.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement Wednesday that certain GM vehicles from the 2012 through 2018 model years did not comply with federal fuel economy requirements.
The penalty comes after the Environmental Protection Agency said its testing showed the GM pickup trucks and SUVs emit over 10% more carbon dioxide on average than GM's initial compliance testing claimed.
The EPA says the vehicles will remain on the road and cannot be repaired. The GM vehicles on average consume at least 10% more fuel than the window sticker numbers say, but the company won't be required to reduce the miles per gallon on the stickers, the EPA said.
“Our investigation has achieved accountability and upholds an important program that’s reducing air pollution and protecting communities across the country,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said.
GM said in a statement that it complied with all regulations in pollution and mileage certification of its vehicles. The company said it is not admitting to any wrongdoing nor that it failed to comply with the Clean Air Act.
The problem stems from a change in testing procedures that the EPA put in place in 2016, GM spokesman Bill Grotz said.
Owners don't have to take any action because there is no defect in the vehicles, Grotz said.
“We believe this voluntary action is the best course of action to resolve the outstanding issues with the federal government,” he said.
The enforcement action involves about 4.6 million full-size pickups and SUVs and about 1.3 million midsize SUVs, the EPA said. The affected models include the Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado. About 40 variations of GM vehicles are covered.
GM will be forced to give up credits used to ensure that manufacturers' greenhouse gas emissions are below the fleet standard for emissions that applies for that model year, the EPA said. In a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, GM said it expects the total cost to resolve the matter will be $490 million.
Because GM agreed to address the excess emissions, EPA said it was not necessary to make a formal determination regarding the reasons for the excess pollution.
But David Cooke, senior vehicles analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, questioned how GM could not know that pollution exceeded initial test by more than 10% because the problem was so widespread on so many different vehicles. “You don’t just make a more than 10% rounding error,” he said.
Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign for the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity, said the violations by GM “show why automakers can’t be trusted to protect our air and health, and why we need strong pollution rules. Supreme Court, take notice!”
In similar pollution cases in the past, automakers have been fined under the Clean Air Act for such violations, and the Justice Department normally gets involved, Cooke said. Hyundai and Kia, for instance, faced Justice Department action in a similar case.
The Justice Department declined to comment, and GM said the settlement resolves all government claims.
Cooke said it’s possible that GM owners could sue the company because they are getting lower gas mileage than advertised.
In 2014, Hyundai and Kia entered into a settlement in which they had to pay a $100 million civil penalty to end a two year investigation into overstated gas mileage on window stickers of 1.2 million vehicles.
The affiliated Korean automakers denied allegations that they violated the law. Hyundai blamed the inflated mileage on honest misinterpretation of the EPA’s complex rules governing testing.
In 2015, Volkswagen admitted it intentionally rigged nearly half a million cars to defeat U.S. smog tests.
The German company admitted that it intentionally installed software programed to “defeat” emissions testing, enabling cars to drive more powerfully on the road while emitting as much as 40 times the legal pollution limit. The scandal cost Volkswagen more than $30 billion in fines and settlements and saw two U.S. executives sent to prison.
Krisher reported from Detroit.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan speaks to employees in Washington, Thursday, June 27, 2024. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
FILE - A General Motors logo is seen on a building, April 24, 2024, in Detroit. GM will pay nearly $146 million in penalties to the federal government because 5.9 million of its older vehicles don’t comply with emissions and fuel economy standards. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
SEATTLE (AP) — Luis Castillo limited Toronto to two hits over a dominant 6 2/3 innings, Luke Raley had a two-run double in the third and the Seattle Mariners beat the Blue Jays 2-1 on Friday night.
Castillo (7-9) was nearly untouchable in his 200th career start, retiring each of the first nine Blue Jays hitters, and not allowing a hit until Kevin Kiermaier hit a solo home run with one out in the sixth.
Castillo’s only blemish before Kiermaier’s homer was a leadoff walk to Toronto first baseman Spencer Horwitz in the fourth inning.
After Kiermaier made it one-run game with a 379-foot shot to right field, Horwitz quickly hit a single back up the middle for Toronto’s final hit of the night. But Castillo escaped trouble, with Bo Bichette hitting into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
Castillo departed to a standing ovation after walking Daulton Varsho in the seventh, having allowed one run on two hits, with eight strikeouts.
A big reason for Castillo's success was a new grip for his slider, which made his already tough pitch come in a few miles per hour slower than usual and threw Toronto's hitters off-balance.
“It helps a lot, the fastball coming in around 96, 97, and that changeup coming in around 85," Castillo said. "But then this new slider that I've got coming in even slower, it gives me three different varieties of speed to play with. It just keeps them on their toes.”
Austin Voth and Ryne Stanek combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, and Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
“These guys pitch,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “They're up there with the best arms in the league. There weren't many opportunities."
The Mariners struck first when Raley clubbed the double off Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (6-8) in the third.
Cal Raleigh drew a two-out walk, and Julio Rodríguez reached base on an infield single. Rodríguez was originally called out on a throw from third baseman Ernie Clement, but the call was overturned on replay.
Manager Scott Servais credited replay coordinator Andy Bissell for seeing that Horwitz had come off the bag, which put Rodríguez aboard and kick-started the rally.
“It turned out to be a huge call in the game tonight,” Servais said. “Hats off to (Bissell). That is a tough job. It happens super fast and he’s on top of it and helped us win a game tonight,”
One batter later, Raley hit a fastball to the left-center field gap to put the Mariners up 2-0.
“It’s important for us to start getting some guys in and scoring some runs for our pitchers,” Raley said. “Even two runs, we still need to keep putting up more runs, but it’s nice the last two days to see us break through and get a couple of those big hits.”
Gausman finished with two earned runs allowed on six hits over six innings, with 10 strikeouts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was back in the lineup Friday after being scratched Thursday with a right forearm contusion … RHP Yimi Garcia (elbow) will make a rehab start on Saturday in Triple-A Buffalo.
Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (hamstring) will make a rehab start in Single-A Everett on Saturday, while RHP Gregory Santos will make an Everett rehab appearance in relief.
ROSTER MOVE
Toronto recalled RHP Ryan Burr from Triple-A Buffalo, and optioned RHP Jose Cuas.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Yariel Rodríguez (0-3, 4.63 ERA) will start Friday against RHP Emerson Hancock (3-3, 4.79 ERA).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws against the Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, left, hands starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) the ball as they have a conference on the mound with pitching coach Pete Walker, seocnd from left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier, right, is congratulated by third base coach Carlos Febles, left, after hitting a solo home run on a pitch from Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo during a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Toronto Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz (48) is forced out at second as Seattle Mariners second baseman Dylan Moore, top, throws to first to complete a double play against Blue Jays' Bo Bichette during the sixth inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo is greeted in the dugout after leaving during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez celebrates in the dugout after scoring against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley, right, hits a two-RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo, denter, smiles at manager Scott Servais (9) who asks for the ball to replace him during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
