This settlement resolves allegations that Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc.(HCEA) and Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (HHI) (collectively known as �Hyundai�) sold heavy construction vehicles with diesel engines that were not certified to applicable emission standards. The types of vehicles in violation included excavators, loaders, and fork lifts.
EPA alleges that from 2012 to 2015, Hyundai illegally pre-purchased, or �stockpiled,� engines meeting older emissions standards before the standards changed, and then, after the new engine standards took effect, Hyundai imported, sold, offered for sale, and/or introduced into commerce nonroad vehicles containing the older non-compliant engines in violation of the Clean Air Act. Additionally, Hyundai also imported, marketed and sold nonroad vehicles using diesel engines meeting older emission standards under the Transition Program for Equipment Manufacturers (TPEM) program regulations in quantities that exceeded their exemption allowance limit under the program. Hyundai allegedly introduced into United States commerce at least 2,269 illegal diesel nonroad vehicles.
Hyundai�s illegal nonroad diesel vehicles were not certified as meeting applicable pollutant emission standards, including for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). NOx is a reactive gas that contributes to the formation of PM and ozone. PM is a form of air pollution composed of microscopic solids and liquids suspended in air. Ozo