Porsche Expects Approval of US Emissions Compliance Plan by End of January

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has said that he expects US environmental authorities to accept the auto manufacturer’s proposals for correcting emissions issues in many of its vehicles by the end of this month. Many of the brand’s V6 engines were found to fail to meet American emissions standards in September of last year, when parent company Volkswagen was accused of using a special software to cheat environmental emissions tests.

The proposals that were made by Porsche to US officials in December specifically addressed the compliance of the company’s Cayenne SUV. From the 2013 to 2016 model years, roughly 13,000 Cayennes are thought to have been equipped with the faulty engine software. The proposed solutions to the emission problem included new software and catalytic converters for the 2013-2014 models and new engine management software for the 2015-2016 models. These solutions, though proposed by Porsche, were the result of technical suggestions made by Audi, another subsidiary of Volkswagen and the brand that actually manufactured the V6 engines in question.

While Mr. Blume expressed his optimism that US officials would approve the plan as the best method for bringing the affected models into full compliance with American regulations, he did acknowledge the possibility that other solutions could be proposed in response. As yet, officials have made no statement as to whether or not the proposals are sufficient to correct the emissions issues that are inherent within the diesel engines.

While it is likely that these solutions will bring Porsche’s Cayenne models back into full compliance, parent company Volkswagen is facing legal issues connected with the use of the deceptive testing software around the world. In Sweden, prosecutors recently launched a full criminal investigation into charges of fraud and false documentation against the auto manufacturing giant. In the United States, private suits against the company have left many leading lawyers, including former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards, vying to represents plaintiffs. While Volkswagen executives have admitted that the engines did not meet admissions standards, CEO Matthias Mueller recently reiterated his position that the problem was purely technical, maintaining that intentional deception was not involved.

Despite the legal action being pursued against Volkswagen in many nations, Porsche executives have tentatively stated that they expect some growth in 2016, owing to an increase in overall exports in 2015. While the luxury automaker may not yet be finished with the fallout from the emissions scandal, sales appear to be returning to normal. Volkswagen, as the parent company, may yet be in for a tumultuous year.