PORTLAND, Maine — Maine Attorney General Janet Mills announced Thursday that her office has joined other states and the federal government in an investigation into German car maker Volkswagen, which was found to have skirted emissions rules in some of its cars.
Maine will take part in the probe alongside at least 29 other states, sending subpoenas to the world’s top-selling car maker, whose diesel models were found to have software installed to produce cleaner emissions during testing and return to higher levels on the road.
“Consumers also have a right to believe the information they are provided by manufacturers is truthful,” Mills said in a news release. “The charges that VW has, or attempted to, circumvent emissions standards by manipulating software in the car is a very serious charge, and Maine will work with other states and the federal government to ensure this is appropriately investigated.”
Tim Feeley, spokesman for the Maine attorney general’s office, said his office is working with the secretary of state to determine how many of the affected cars are registered in the state.
The scandal over emissions led to the resignation of the German automaker’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn, on Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Times reported the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal includes 11 million vehicles worldwide. Federal and state regulators said the German automaker used software in 482,000 of its diesel vehicles since the 2009 model year to cheat on U.S. emissions tests.
The company has confirmed EPA charges that it installed “defeat devices” in versions of its 2009-15 Jetta, Beetle, Golf, Passat and Audi A3 passenger cars fitted with 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engines.
The EPA said affected customers can expect to receive a recall notice from Volkswagen, detailing how to get the car repaired, at no cost. The EPA said the cars remain safe to drive.
Reuters contributed to this report.