Toyota's subsidiary, Hino, has reached an agreement to resolve the emissions fraud lawsuit.
Hino manipulated emissions testing data to secure authorization for the importation and sale of over 110,000 diesel engines in the United States, the majority of which were fitted in heavy-duty trucks manufactured by Hino, as reported by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In accordance with the agreement, Hino will admit to participating in a criminal conspiracy aimed at deceiving regulators and consumers, thereby breaching environmental protection statutes and jeopardizing public health, as stated by US Attorney General Merrick Garland in an official announcement. US regulatory authorities, along with the state of California, which enforces stringent vehicle emission regulations, have negotiated criminal and civil settlements with Hino amounting to more than $1.6 billion.
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"Hino's actions directly undermined EPA's program to protect the public from air pollution," acting EPA administrator Jane Nishida said in a release.
The suggested settlement is dependent on the approval of a district court judge in the state of Michigan."Corporate crimes such as these endanger the health and well-being of innocent Americans, as well as the environment in which we all live," said US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Dawn Ison.
The deal includes a five-year term of probation during which Hino will be barred from importing diesel engines it has manufactured into the United States and implement a comprehensive compliance and ethics program, according to the EPA.
Hino will also have to recall some trucks with engines violating emissions standards and spend some $155 million to replace marine and locomotive engines through the US to offset excess air emissions, according to the EPA.
