UK toxic car pollution tests delayed by lack of equipment

MPs told it will be several months before levels of nitrogen oxide will become known as there is only one machine available to test real-world emissions

The government has little idea of how much deadly nitrogen oxide (NOx) is being emitted by individual passenger cars because it has only one 100,000 machine able to test real-world emissions, it has emerged.

Until now, government vehicle inspectors have used laboratory tests that can be manipulated by car manufacturers with "cheat devices" to give false results, MPs on the environmental audit committee were told.