Franklin, Andrews, Kramer & Edelstein

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E.P.A. Accuses Fiat Chrysler of Secretly Violating Emissions Standards

By HIROKO TABUCHIJAN. 12, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/business/epa-emissions-cheating-diesel-fiat-chrysler-jeep-dodge.html?_r=0

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday accused Fiat Chrysler of using secret software that allowed illegal excess emissions from at least 104,000 diesel vehicles.

Affected models include the light-duty model year 2014, 2015 and 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with 3-liter diesel engines sold in the United States, the agency said.

The software resulted in excess emissions of nitrogen oxides, which have harmful health effects, from the vehicles, the agency said.

The excess in emissions “threatens public health by polluting the air we breathe,” said Cynthia Giles, an assistant administrator at the E.P.A.

Ms. Giles stopped short of calling the software “defeat devices,” which Volkswagen used to cheat on diesel emissions tests. Volkswagen is now engulfed in a scandal over the devices.

But she said there was no doubt that Fiat Chrysler’s software “is contributing to illegal pollution.”

Ms. Giles’s description of the software showed great similarities with Volkswagen’s defeat device. It was designed so that during emissions tests, the cars met legal standards. But E.P.A. investigations showed that under normal driving conditions, the software reduced the effectiveness of emissions controls, Ms. Giles said.

Fiat Chrysler has been notified that the cars violate the Clean Air Act. The automaker has not yet given E.P.A. or the California Air Resources Board, which jointly investigated the vehicles, a satisfactory answer on the accusations, Ms. Giles said.

In a statement, Fiat Chrysler said it “believes that its emission control systems meet the applicable requirements.”

The company added that it “intends to work with the incoming administration to present its case and resolve this matter fairly and equitably” and assure the agency and customers that it meets regulatory requirements.

The discovery of Volkswagen’s cheating in its vehicles, 600,000 of which were sold in the United States, has set off numerous investigations.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors announced criminal charges against six Volkswagen executives for their roles in the company’s emissions-cheating scandal. Volkswagen also formally pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to violating the Clean Air Act, customs violations and obstruction of justice.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/business/epa-emissions-cheating-diesel-fiat-chrysler-jeep-dodge.html?_r=0