Volvo’s truck and bus division, which is a separate entity from the automobile company that belongs to the Geely Holding Group since 2010, has revealed that some of its engines may be exceeding limits for nitrogen oxide emissions.
Reuters reports that the Swedish company fears some of its truck and bus engines feature an emissions control component which is degrading more quickly than expected.
Volvo Group says that most of the potentially affected engines are being used by vehicles operating in North America and Europe. The company was quick to point out that it hasn’t deliberately tried to manipulate or cheat emissions tests.
Instead, Volvo Group asserts that all of the engines in question met emissions limits at delivery. Internal investigations indicate that degradation hasn’t affected all vehicles and engines in the same way and to the same extent.
Volvo investor relations director Anders Christensson says the emissions control component at fault forms part of the catalyst converter and was sourced from an external provider.
“In certain applications when the engine is not running hot enough you get condensation water in there and that causes this problem. You get a warning signal in the dashboard saying you’re running above nitrogen oxide levels,” Christensson said.
Volvo hasn’t specified exactly how many of its trucks and buses have the faulty emissions control component, making it difficult to estimate the cost of potential repairs.
A spokesman for the automaker confirmed that Volvo is discussing the matter with authorities in Europe and North America. A European Commission spokeswoman added that it will gather additional information through the appropriate Swedish authorities.
Volvo sold a total of 143,373 trucks across North America and Europe in 2017.