<div>The United States has opened a criminal investigation into Volkswagen, which has admitted almost 500,000 of its cars in the US have a clean-air cheating device, a source close to the probe said today.<br /><br />The investigation is being led by the US Justice Department's environment and natural resources division, the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity and confirming media reports.<br /><br />The German automaker is already under investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and could face up to USD 18 billion in fines related to that inquiry.<br /><br />The California Air Resources Board is also investigating Volkswagen's violations of emissions standards.<br /><br />Volkswagen, the world's largest automaker by sales in the first half of this year, has said it is cooperating with the various US investigations.<br /><br />Today, Volkswagen admitted that 11 million of its diesel cars worldwide are equipped with devices that can cheat pollution tests.<br /><br />A hearing over the emissions scandal will be held soon in Congress, two Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives announced yesterday.</div>
<div>The United States has opened a criminal investigation into Volkswagen, which has admitted almost 500,000 of its cars in the US have a clean-air cheating device, a source close to the probe said today.<br /><br />The investigation is being led by the US Justice Department's environment and natural resources division, the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity and confirming media reports.<br /><br />The German automaker is already under investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and could face up to USD 18 billion in fines related to that inquiry.<br /><br />The California Air Resources Board is also investigating Volkswagen's violations of emissions standards.<br /><br />Volkswagen, the world's largest automaker by sales in the first half of this year, has said it is cooperating with the various US investigations.<br /><br />Today, Volkswagen admitted that 11 million of its diesel cars worldwide are equipped with devices that can cheat pollution tests.<br /><br />A hearing over the emissions scandal will be held soon in Congress, two Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives announced yesterday.</div>