The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Thoroughbred Performance Products of Winchester, Kentucky, operating as Thoroughbred Diesel, in response to claims that the company sold thousands of aftermarket products that disable vehicles' emissions control systems, known as 'defeat devices.' As part of the settlement, Thoroughbred Diesel agreed to cease selling defeat devices and pay a civil penalty of $1,250,000.
"Cracking down on sellers of illegal defeat devices is a top enforcement priority for EPA," said Acting EPA Region 4 Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle. "These illegal practices contribute to harmful air pollution and impede federal, state, and local efforts to implement air quality standards that protect public health. Emissions from mobile sources play an important role in EPA’s Southeastern region, and the use of these defeat devices hampers our ability to maintain compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards."
Thoroughbred Diesel also agreed to certify that it has stopped selling devices that disable vehicle emission controls and will remove from its webpages and social media accounts all advertisements, photos, videos, and information related to tampering with or selling, offering to sell, or installing defeat devices.
EPA mandates emission controls on vehicles to reduce air pollutants and their harmful effects. Aftermarket defeat devices negate those controls. An EPA study found that known sales of defeat devices for certain diesel trucks between 2009 and 2020 resulted in more than 570,000 tons of excess nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 5,000 tons of excess particulate matter (PM) over the lifetime of the trucks. These pollutants have serious health effects and are known to trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks. Respiratory issues like asthma disproportionately affect families living in underserved communities burdened by pollution.
Stopping aftermarket defeat devices for vehicles and engines remains a top priority for EPA.
