Audio By Carbonatix
Toyota subsidiary Hino Motors has agreed to pay $1.6bn (£1.3bn) and plead guilty to deceiving US regulators about the amount of emissions produced by its diesel engines.
The truck company will also be banned from exporting its diesel engines to the country for five years.
It comes after Hino was charged with fraud in a Detroit court for selling 105,000 illegal engines in the US between 2010 and 2022.
The settlement still requires approval by a US court.
According to the US Justice Department, Hino submitted "false and fraudulent" emission testing and fuel consumption data in a "criminal conspiracy" that allowed it to import and sell its engines in the United States.
"Hino Motors engaged in a years-long scheme to alter and fabricate emissions data to get a leg up over its competitors and boost their bottom line," said FBI Director Christopher Wray.
"To further this fraudulent scheme, Hino violated laws and regulations intended to protect American's health and the environment."
On top of the five-year diesel engine import ban, Hino has also committed to a compliance and ethics plan during that period.
"We take this resolution seriously and will ensure that the field fix, the Environmental Mitigation Program, and further strengthening of our compliance system ... are implemented," said Satoshi Ogiso, Hino's chief executive and president in a statement.
"We deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers and stakeholders."
The US Environmental Protection Agency said Hino has also agreed to recall some infringing heavy-duty trucks and to replace marine and locomotive engines across the country to offset excess air emissions.
In order to cover costs resulting from its legal problems, Hino said that in its second quarter financial results announced in October, it reported an extraordinary loss of 230 billion yen (£1.2bn, $1.48bn).
In the last decade, several car makers admitted to lying about the emissions produced by their diesel engines.
In what has become known as the dieselgate scandal, brands throughout the Volkswagen corporate empire were implicated, including Audi, Porsche, Seat and Skoda as well as Volkswagen itself.
Volkswagen has spent more than 30 billion euros (£25bn, $30.9bn) paying fines, issuing recalls and compensating its customers.
Latest Stories
-
Creative Canvas 2025: Documenting Ghana’s creative year beyond the noise
26 minutes -
Alhassan Suhuyini makes Christmas donations to churches within Tamale North Constituency
4 hours -
Meet 81-year-old father of UCC Acting Vice-Chancellor, who recently graduated with an MBA
4 hours -
Did you know that Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyer, Enayat Qasimi, is the ‘Ken Ofori-Atta of Afghanistan? – Kay Codjoe writes
4 hours -
Kidnap suspect arrested in Tamale as Police rescue victim after four days
5 hours -
Tema Oil Refinery resumes crude refining after years of shutdown
5 hours -
Kojo Antwi thrills fans with regal entry, marathon performance at ‘Antwified’ concert
5 hours -
Ofori Amponsah surprises KiDi at ‘Likor On The Beach’ 2025
5 hours -
Joy FM thanks sponsors, partners and patrons after spectacular 2025 Family Party-in-the-Park
6 hours -
‘Christmas babies’ and their mothers in Volta and Oti regions receive MTN hampers
6 hours -
One dead, another injured after accident at Atwedie
6 hours -
Maggi Waakye Summit draws thousands as Ghana’s biggest waakye festival returns
7 hours -
Western Regional Minister urges Ghanaians to use Christmas to deepen national cohesion
8 hours -
Thousands turn Aburi Gardens into a festive paradise at Joy FM’s Party in the Park
8 hours -
Source of GOLDBOD’s trading funds questioned amid reported $214m loss
8 hours
