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GM To Pay $145.8M Penalty For Excessive Vehicle Emissions

GM has agreed to fork over $145.8 million in penalties to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) because of excess emissions from several million 2012 through 2018 model year full-size pickups and mid-size crossovers, according to EPA standards.

According to an EPA investigation a total of 5.9 million vehicles from the 2012 to 2018 period are producing more emissions than the standards allow, including 4.6 million full-size pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles and 1.3 million midsize SUVs, Reuters coverage says.

Fuel being pumped into a GM vehicle.

The report did not list the specific models involved, but noted that the investigation found 10-percent higher carbon dioxide emissions than the figures reported by the automaker. In addition to the monetary fine, GM is surrendering carbon allowances coming to 50 million metric tons. The Environmental Protection Agency is not attempting to have any of the vehicles recalled, however.

Michael Regan, an EPA official, remarked that the agency’s “standards depend on strong oversight in order to deliver public health benefits in the real world” and that the GM inquiry “has achieved accountability and upholds an important program that’s reducing air pollution and protecting communities.”

Gas being pumped.

GM said it “complied with and adhered to all applicable laws and regulations in the certification and in-use testing of the vehicles in-question.” However, the automaker added in its statement, it decided to “swiftly resolve outstanding issues” by agreeing to the fine and the docking of carbon allowances related to the case.

This penalty follows $128.2 million in fines The General paid last year, related to fuel economy violations for the 2016 and 2017 model years. GM’s fines were the second biggest in June 2023 after those assessed to Stellantis, which was assessed $235.5 million in penalties for 2018 and 2019 model-year vehicles.

The GM logo at the Renaissance Center.

The General was ranked as the second-worst carmaker for average miles per gallon in 2021, with its vehicles achieving 21.6 mpg fuel economy, while Subaru vehicles, the most economical, got 28.8 mpg on average.

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Comments

  1. This is a tax on the consumer at the end of the day. Certain political hacks end goal is to tax everyone’s carbon footprint that’s why they want EVs so much. It’s not about saving the environment it’s about more revenue and control. These carbon credits are the only reason why Tesla is still around

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  2. Bad timing. The Supreme Court just made MAJOR changes to the Chevron deference. This has the potential for us to gain some freedoms and choices back from entities like the EPA and NHTSA.

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    1. Hopefully this means they can eliminate the asinine California loophole that allows that state to set their own standards.

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  3. Politics aside, all GM had to do was lean into good engines that produce great mileage. Hybrids could’ve been slowly introduced, as other competitors have successfully done. GM did none of that, and instead put all their eggs in the EV basket from which they are now backpedaling and promising hybrids – by 2027.

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    1. You clearly haven’t been paying attention over the last 20 years. GM offered hybrid versions of the Tahoe, Silverado, and Malibu. Nobody was buying them. Why invest in making something nobody buys? It must’ve been a business decision to save money and pay the fine instead of wasting millions more in R&D that doesn’t sell.

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  4. I think this is BS. I had a Silverado in the date range and it passed emissions every time no problem.

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    1. It’s not tailpipe tests for carbon dioxide, NOX. It’s the EPA B@@@@ing about “you sold too many trucks, SUV’s and cars people actually like. Time to abolish the EPA.

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  5. Waw Waw Waw just add it to the price. I’ll keep buying what I want to drive.

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  6. It’s all bs new cars don’t pollute,my weedwacker pollutes more . Some people are just plain stupid about emission control , it’s already been done it should be over now.. Why does our taxes pay for these wack jobs. They should penalize a volcano for pollution or the earth platelets from moving, you do know this is a joke

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  7. Let the epa rot in hell

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  8. So if I understand this correctly, after these trucks were epa-rated for mpg the test procedure was changed. The new test provides lower numbers than the old test, closer to what people get in the real world. The government calls that a crime (although I learned a long time ago that supposedly there are no “ex post facto” laws.). I’m not sure how GM has fallen for this, other than as a hush money payment to make them shut up and go away. One of our worst mistakes was ever letting EPA classify CO2 as a “pollutant” that needs to be regulated.

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    1. The city cycle test procedure hasn’t changed since 1975.

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