VW Questions U.S. Standing In Emissions Lawsuit

American authorities do not have jurisdiction to sue Volkswagen over its doctored diesel emissions tests, the German automaker claims in a filing this week. The company pointed out that cars in the United States were sold through local businesses, not parent companies, and that the statute of limitations voided any conduct at Volkswagen before 2010. The tactic is a departure from VW’s early admissions that it had installed software designed to beat emissions tests and dupe regulators in diesel cars. In this week’s filing, VW said it was still conducting an internal investigation. But its belief that the Justice Department “fails to allege facts sufficient” for any penalties “has no bearing on Volkswagen’s commitment to resolving the U.S. government’s claims,” the brief reads.