LOS ANGELES -- California air quality regulators on Tuesday rejected Volkswagen's recall plan to fix diesel vehicles that were programmed to trick government emissions tests.
Calling the German automaker’s proposed fix “unacceptable,” the California Air Resources Board said the plan does not meet its standards.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it agrees with the move but is working on a different timetable.
Volkswagen officials said the rejection referred to a recall plan submitted last month.
"Today's announcement addresses the initial recall plans Volkswagen submitted to CARB in December," VW said in an emailed response to the announcement. "We are committed to working cooperatively with CARB and other regulators, and we plan to continue our discussions tomorrow when we meet with the EPA."
VW CEO to Meet EPA Chief, Congressional Leaders on Emissions Scandal
Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller is scheduled to meet with EPA officials on Wednesday to discuss the emissions scandal and the company’s proposed response. The company's recall plan for 2.0-liter diesel engines covers 500,000 vehicles. A separate recall plan for 85,000 3.0-liter engines is due next month. Volkswagen told regulators last fall that it had installed software on its 2009 to 2015 diesel engine models to bypass government emissions tests.