Get Rid of Dieselgate Cars, Organizations Say - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica marks the 10-year anniversary of the Dieselgate scandal, where millions of diesel cars were found to have cheated emissions tests, emitting pollution far above legal limits. Despite the scandal's exposure a decade ago, many of these high-polluting vehicles remain on European roads, continuing to contribute significantly to air pollution and public health issues. A coalition of organizations—including Transport & Environment (T&E), UNEP, ETSC, CMC, and OPUS RSE—is urging European lawmakers to revise vehicle regulations to systematically identify and remove these cars. Their proposals include real-world emissions testing, annual inspections for older vehicles, mandatory repairs or scrappage funded by manufacturers, and stronger safety checks. The coalition also highlights the ongoing human toll, estimating that Dieselgate-related pollution has caused 124,000 premature deaths so far, with 81,000 more projected. They criticize Europe for lagging behind the U.S., where Volkswagen was forced to buy back or fix affected vehicles.