FCA: Under Investigation and in Dutch With Europe
Emission probes have been in fashion for a couple of years now, especially in Europe. In France, the most recent target is FCA. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is currently under a judicial investigation as to whether or not it misled customers and cheated during emissions testing.
Though the terms of probe are unclear, a letter from the French magistrate kicked off the new investigation earlier this month. In the letter, the head of the investigation says the suspected emissions cheating dates back as early as September 2009, and involves the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Jeep brands. FCA is also under investigation in the United States over possible emissions cheating with its light-duty diesel truck engines.
Reuters, which intercepted the letter, was nonspecific as to which engines might be at fault. However it does state that investigators suspect FCA was involved in the “obstruction of the work of an official tasked with registering breaches of the consumer code.”
Further investigation from France’s Le Monde indicates the powerplants under scrutiny were diesel motors sold primarily in Fiat and Jeep vehicles — specifically the longstanding Multijet series of engines.
The European Union previously launched legal action against Italy for failing to properly police allegations of emissions cheating by Fiat Chrysler. Whether this is a post-dieselgate witch hunt or something far more serious remains to be seen. The maximum fine for corporate “aggravated deception” would translate to roughly 10.5 billion euros, if France takes into account the automaker’s global revenue.
FCA France claims it has cooperated with authorities and will continue to do so in the future. However, it said it will not comment further on the matter until the full details are known.
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
More by Matt Posky
Comments
Join the conversation
"Your diesel Fiat is no Volkswagen!" "Oh, yeah? It's just as good!"
Did you mean to say that Reuters received a copy of the letter from the French legal system? I rather doubt they "intercepted" a letter from a French "magistrate".