European Union (EU) rules that would enable car makers to keep information about pollution control systems secret should be illegal, according to UK environmental law firm ClientEarth, which has announced that it will challenge the regulations in the EU's court of justice. However, manufacturers say the emissions controls must still be ramped down at certain temperatures to protect engines. The case is being brought by ClientEarth and two other groups against a new EU directive on vehicle emissions testing that came into force last year. Such strategies must be revealed to national regulators, but car makers argue that releasing information to the public would compromise commercial confidentiality. ClientEarth claims that secrecy around the systems increases the risk of another scandal similar to Volkswagen’s “dieselgate” affair.
European Union (EU) rules that would enable car makers to keep information about pollution control systems secret should be illegal, according to UK environmental law firm ClientEarth, which has announced that it will challenge the regulations in the EU's court of justice. The case is being brought by ClientEarth and two other groups against a new EU directive on vehicle emissions testing that came into force last year. Such strategies must be revealed to national regulators, but car makers argue that releasing information to the public would compromise commercial confidentiality. ClientEarth claims that secrecy around the systems increases the risk of another scandal similar to Volkswagen’s “dieselgate” affair.