In a yet another example of corporate misconduct that threatens public health and environmental safety, Michigan-based OTR Performance Inc. has been forced to pay a $770,000 penalty for manufacturing and selling illegal defeat devices that disabled emission controls on diesel vehicles.

This case highlights the ongoing battle between corporate profit-seeking and environmental protection, revealing how evil corporations continue to prioritize short-term gains over public welfare.

The Scale of Environmental Damage

The company’s actions were far from minor – they manufactured and sold over 5,040 parts designed to bypass emission controls, while also tampering with at least 44 heavy-duty diesel vehicles by removing their pollution control systems

These modifications effectively transformed EPA-certified vehicles into rolling pollution machines, spewing dangerous particulate matter and nitrogen oxides into our communities.

Corporate Profit Over Public Welfare

The Business Model of Pollution:
OTR Performance’s business strategy exemplified the troubling pattern of corporations prioritizing profits over public health. By selling devices that disabled emission controls, the company knowingly contributed to increased air pollution, putting vulnerable populations at risk while profiting from environmental degradation

Delayed Accountability:
Despite being aware of their violations through an EPA investigation initiated in 2018, the company continued manufacturing defeat devices until June 2020, demonstrating a calculated approach to maximizing profits even while under regulatory scrutiny

The Human Cost

The impact of diesel pollution on public health is well-documented, with increased rates of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and premature death particularly affecting low-income communities and children. Each defeated emission control system represents a choice to prioritize corporate profits over community health.

A Pattern of Corporate Environmental Crime

The Economics of Non-Compliance
The $770,000 penalty, while significant, raises questions about whether such fines truly serve as effective deterrents when weighed against the profits generated from illegal activities. The company’s ability to negotiate a payment plan – with three installments spread over a year – further illustrates how corporate violators can manage penalties as merely a cost of doing business

Looking Forward

While OTR Performance has now certified the destruction of their remaining inventory and agreed to cease providing support for defeat devices, this story highlights the ongoing challenge of corporate accountability in environmental protection.

The company’s actions have already left an indelible mark on air quality and public health that no financial penalty can fully address. This pattern of corporate environmental violations, followed by negotiated settlements, raises serious questions about the effectiveness of our current regulatory framework in preventing corporate misconduct.

Until we implement more stringent oversight and truly punitive measures, corporations will continue to view environmental regulations as optional, treating fines as merely another line item in their profit calculations.


OTR Performance is located at 51619 Industrial Dr, Macomb, MI 48042

This is their website