COBB Tuning Products has been ordered to pay nearly $3 million for selling emissions defeat devices. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Justice Department announced the settlement on September 16.
Why it matters: COBB Tuning Products, based in Austin, Texas, sold more than 90,000 of these devices since 2015, which disable EPA-approved emission controls. This leads to increased pollution.
- The company must pay a civil penalty of over $2.9 million.
- COBB must also stop manufacturing and selling these illegal devices.
- They are required to remove delete features from their software and destroy the devices still in stock.
- Advertising and technical support for previously sold devices must cease, and customers must be notified of the violations.
EPA Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann stated, "Defeat devices significantly increase air pollution from motor vehicles, particularly in communities that already are overburdened by pollution," according to an EPA press release.
Background: The EPA has been cracking down on defeat device manufacturers, with other companies like Rudy’s Performance Parts and Full Force Diesel Performance also facing penalties.
In all, COBB Tuning's actions led to excess emissions of harmful gases like nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. The settlement is still pending a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.