The US subsidiary of the Chinese manufacturer Lifan, American Lifan Industry Inc. will have to pay $630,000 (€458,000) in fines after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the company has imported and sold almost 28,000 vehicles in the US, and which did not hold an EPA certificate.
The absence of the EPA certificate makes importing and selling these vehicles illegal, hence the fine. Even more, the EPA asked that Lifan pay a bond amount of $300-500k (€218-363k) to "satisfy any future potential penalties related to the importation of model year 2014, 2015 and 2016 vehicles manufactured by China Lifan Industry (Group) Co. Ltd." It is the first time when the EPA enforces such a punitive action (the bond) against a manufacturer, for Clean Air Act (CAA) violations.
EPA’s actions also target other Chinese-manufacturer motorcycles, recreational vehicles and engines. CFMOTO was also proved to be at fault with around 12,000 vehicles, while a Texas-based group of importers (Savoia, BMX Imports and BMX Trading, and their owner, Terry Zimmer) have also been held liable for around 24,000 vehicles in the same category.
EPA officials said that Lifan failed to provide customers with the full emissions warranty requested by the CAA, and obtained certificates of conformity in the absence of the mandatory emissions tests. Some other 45 similar certificates of conformity have been also voided, affecting another 21,000 vehicles in the 2006-2011 model years.
No info was offered as to how the use of the vehicles Lifan customers already purchased will be affected or the options customers have. Fact is, we might see all Chinese-related vehicles and engines under scrutiny.
Via dealernews
EPA’s actions also target other Chinese-manufacturer motorcycles, recreational vehicles and engines. CFMOTO was also proved to be at fault with around 12,000 vehicles, while a Texas-based group of importers (Savoia, BMX Imports and BMX Trading, and their owner, Terry Zimmer) have also been held liable for around 24,000 vehicles in the same category.
EPA officials said that Lifan failed to provide customers with the full emissions warranty requested by the CAA, and obtained certificates of conformity in the absence of the mandatory emissions tests. Some other 45 similar certificates of conformity have been also voided, affecting another 21,000 vehicles in the 2006-2011 model years.
No info was offered as to how the use of the vehicles Lifan customers already purchased will be affected or the options customers have. Fact is, we might see all Chinese-related vehicles and engines under scrutiny.
Via dealernews
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