Hino Diesel Violations Supporting Documents
The following documents are related to the settlement reached by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) (represented by the California Attorney General) with Hino Motors Ltd.; Hino Motor Sales U.S.A.; and Hino Motors Manufacturing, U.S.A (collectively, Hino) for violations of California laws and regulations and the Clean Air Act in model year 2010-2019 heavy-duty on- and off-road diesel engines. The case involves approximately 16,000 engines in California and over 100,000 engines nationwide.
The total settlement is valued at over $1.5 billion dollars with $236.5 million dollars going to California for mitigation, civil penalties, costs, and restitution. This amount is based on Hino’s demonstrated financial condition. The resolution involves CARB; the California Attorney General; U.S. Department of Justice, both civil and criminal; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Hino failed to comply with California laws and regulations, as well as the Clean Air Act, by fabricating, altering, and omitting data in its certification applications. Hino failed to disclose Auxiliary Emission Control Devices that affected the emissions control systems in its engine software resulting in increased oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. Hino also conducted changes to the engines after the certification application was granted without notifying CARB, as required by the regulations. NOx is an air pollutant that contributes to the formation of ozone and particulate matter. It can greatly aggravate health problems such as asthma and cardio-pulmonary disease and is a serious and expensive problem in California.
In addition, Hino will implement a national recall program for certain newer 2018-2020 highway vehicles, repair some of the affected vehicles at no cost to owners, extend the warranty period for certain parts in the repaired vehicles, and employ new internal corporate compliance procedures to ensure there are no future violations. Hino will also implement a locomotive and marine diesel engine replacement program in the 49 states outside of California to address the environmental harm in those states and will cease to certify any diesel engines in the United States, including California, for five years.