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Authorities raided the German, Italian and Swiss offices of Fiat-Chrysler and CNH Industrial earlier this week as part of an investigation into the alleged use of emissions defeat devices by the automakers.
The raid by German, Italian and Swiss forces was part of a probe initiated by prosecutors in Germany who are investigating emissions fraud, the BBC reported. Authorities in the U.K. have also requested answers from two suspect firms in London.
A European justice agency called Eurojust is heading the investigation.
The Fiat emissions fraud investigations took place in the German states of Hesse and Baden-Wuerttemberg; the region of Piedmont, Italy; and Switzerland’s Thurgau canton.
The concern over defeat devices is that the equipment allegedly conceals Fiat emissions, meaning the vehicles may produce a higher output of emissions but are able to mask the levels of pollution during tests. In real-world driving conditions, the emissions system shuts off.
The European Union specifically defines defeat devices as “any element of design which senses temperature, vehicle speed, engine speed (RPM), transmission gear, manifold vacuum or any other parameter for the purpose of activating, modulating, delaying or deactivating the operation of any part of the emission control system, that reduces the effectiveness of the emission control system under conditions which may reasonably be expected to be encountered in normal vehicle operation and use.”
The defeat devices probe has pinpointed Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and CNH’s Iveco trucks, according to the BBC.
Prosecutors allege that potentially over 200,000 vehicles are equipped with defeat devices in Germany alone, Bloomberg reported.
As for Fiat emissions, the vehicle engines said to be affected are the 1.3L Multijet, 1.6L Multijet and 2.0L Multijet of the EU5 and EU6 emission genres in Alfa, Fiat and Jeep vehicles. Other engines included in the probe are the 110 Multijet F1AE3481G, 115 Multijet 250A1000, 150 Multijet F1AE3481D and 180 Multijet F1CE3481E.
The investigation into Fiat emissions is specifically aimed at nine international carmaker staff members who have allegedly placed defeat devices on vehicles. The nine individuals are described as living in Italy and are suspected of putting defeat devices on vehicles from 2014 to 2019. The names of persons involved have not been mentioned by authorities.
The company names have also not been made public. Eurojust, Fiat and CNH all put forth related statements decrying the allegations, saying investigators have confronted several offices, and each one is completely complying with the authorities.
“The investigation is focused on the suspicion that diesel engines installed in several car models sold by the company would be equipped with an illegal defeat device,” Eurojust’s statement said. “Whereas the vehicles meet the emissions standards under test conditions, the defeat device allegedly effectively shuts down the emissions control system in real drive conditions. Such defeat devices are illegal according to the European Union regulations in place. Vehicles with defeat devices are not approved for road usage in the EU and consumers with such devices installed in their cars face possible driving bans.”
The new alleged Fiat emissions scandal has come at a time when defeat devices have recently been in the spotlight.
After Volkswagen was accused of using defeat devices, an event often called “dieselgate” in headlines, the carmaker was taken to court, the BBC reported.
Ninety thousand individuals in England and Wales were a part of the claim against Volkswagen. The motorists won the first stage in the High Court action, which determined Volkswagen was liable for installing defeat devices in their vehicles. Volkswagen said it was disappointed by the ruling, and the company might pursue an appeal.
Over the years, Nissan, Ford and Daimler have also been accused of using defeat devices in their vehicles.
Vehicles that have been fitted with defeat devices are illegal everywhere in the E.U., and owners can risk losing their permissions to operate such vehicles.
Do you own one of the affected vehicles? How do you feel about the alleged Fiat emissions scandal? Let us know in the comments.
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