U.S. Clean-Air Regulators Talk With Volvo Over Truck Emissions

(Bloomberg) -- Clean-air regulators in the U.S. are in talks with Volvo AB to address a faulty emissions-control component that could cause the company’s commercial trucks to exceed pollution limits, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman said.

Volvo on Tuesday said it discovered a component used to limit auto pollution is degrading faster than expected and could cause its vehicles to exceed limits for nitrogen oxide emissions. The world’s second-largest truckmaker warned that resolving the issue could have a material financial impact but said its analysis is still underway and it is too early to determine the cost.

“EPA is aware of the situation involving excess emissions from Volvo heavy-duty trucks. Over the last few weeks, EPA and the California Air Resources Board have been communicating with Volvo about the problem and are now continuing to meet with the company to develop plans to quickly address this situation,” an EPA spokeswoman said Wednesday in an email.

Volvo’s revelation comes after U.S. diesel-engine maker Cummins Inc. in July that it would pay $404 million through 2020 for repairs to ensure its engines keep pollution below legal limits as they age. EPA and CARB had found last year that some older Cummins engines failed emissions tests as parts wore out.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Beene in Washington at rbeene@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wasserman

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