COBB Tuning, a leading manufacturer of aftermarket performance products for vehicles, has been fined nearly $3 million by the EPA for selling thousands of illegal devices causing a extreme air pollution.

What is happening?

The Los Angeles Times reported that, since 2015, the Austin, Texas-based company has sold 90,000 car exhaust devices, also known as “defeat the devices“- who bypassed air pollution regulationsaccording to the EPA.

These devices are popular because they improve a vehicle’s performance and deactivate emissions control systems to improve fuel economy. According to the LA Times, COBB Tuning manufactured and sold vehicle tuning accessories and software that modified engine combustion at some of its retail stores.

Banned car exhaust gadgets have caused dangerous concentrations of smog-forming and other pollution well above EPA standards. In addition to issuing the fine, the EPA ordered COBB to notify customers of the illegal devices and destroy any remaining products.

However, COBB Tuning executives maintain that the products were not marketed as emissions products. defeat the devicesaccording to a statement cited by the Times. Additionally, they said the company has received more than 200 emissions certifications from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), demonstrating that all of its products, including those under investigation, met regulations and the Clean Air Act.

“We have had to make difficult choices along the way regarding how and when to make changes or discontinue certain products that the EPA has identified as being of concern,” Jeff King, COBB President and CEO, said in his statement.

“We have always focused our decision-making process on implementing changes in a way that considered the best interests of our passionate customers, our channel partners and the environment. Sometimes these were difficult choices, requiring immediate action to address EPA’s concerns. “.

Why is this important?

Because the defeat device software disables a car’s emissions controls, the vehicle will produce much more pollution than normal and may even cause it to spew black smoke. Not only is it a nuisance to other drivers, but it is also a danger to public health.

Car exhaust contains harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and other chemicals believed to contribute to asthma, other lung diseases and cardiovascular problems , like CARB. has detailed.

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“Overriding devices significantly increase air pollution from motor vehicles, especially in communities already burdened by pollution,” David M. Uhlmann, deputy administrator of the EPA’s Office of Compliance, said the Los Angeles Times.

In addition, these illegal devices contribute to global warming, especially in busy cities where urban heat island effect is more pronounced – as the world races against time to defeat climate change.

What do we do to neutralize the devices?

“The use of illegal defeat devices has gone on for too long. EPA will use all of its enforcement tools to hold polluters like COBB Tuning accountable until these illegal practices stop,” Uhlmann said. said the Los Angeles Times.

The newspaper said the EPA and other regulators have sued several major companies over the past 10 years for selling exhaust control devices for cars. For example, Volkswagen was fined $2.8 billion in criminal charges in 2015 for selling nearly 500,000 cars in the United States equipped with emissions cheating software.

Switch to a greener environment electric vehicle (which does not emit exhaust pollution) or take public transportation where possible, there are simple solutions to help reduce pollution and save money gas. However, if you’re buying a gas or hybrid car, it might be a good idea to have it tested for hidden override devices first, just in case.

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