Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Fiat Chrysler accused of cheating

BBC reports that The US government is suing car firm Fiat Chrysler, alleging the firm sold vehicles with 'defeat devices' that helped them pass emissions tests.

The firm did not disclose the emissions control software to regulators, the Department of Justice (DoJ) alleged.

The software enabled the vehicles to produce lower emissions during roadworthiness tests than they did when used under normal driving conditions.

Fiat said it would 'defend itself vigorously' against the accusations.

In a statement Fiat Chrysler spokesman, Eric Mayne, said the firm would defend itself 'particularly against any claims that the company engaged in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat US emissions tests'.

The DoJ filed the complaint on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

It alleges the software features were installed in about 104,000 Dodge Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles, model years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and sold in the US.

Fiat Chrysler last week announced updates to its emissions software programs. The firm said it would install the modified software into the older vehicles and new ones.

The civil complaint, filed on Tuesday in Detroit, is the formal accusation that Fiat fitted defeat devises to some vehicles.

It follows the EPA's notification in January of its investigation into Fiat Chrysler's compliance with the Clean Air Act.

Since then, other countries, including the UK and France, have also said they were investigating the company.