Fiat Chrysler rejects French diesel test-manipulation claims

Bloomberg

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV denied a report that the carmaker could be fined for manipulating French diesel-emissions tests, saying the allegations have no basis and that its vehicles comply with the law.
The Italian company hasn’t been charged with any offense and is cooperating with French authorities, Fiat Chrysler said in an emailed statement.
French newspaper Le Monde reported that the potential levy appears in a report from France’s anti-fraud office, the Directorate General for Competition and
Repression of Fraud. France opened
an emissions probe in March that also
includes Peugeot SA, Renault SA and
Volkswagen A G.
French authorities are investigating the carmaker for what’s called aggravated fraud, a charge that can result in a maximum fine of 10 percent of global revenue, or as much as $11.5 billion. Vehicles being examined have generated about 152 million euros revenue in the country from 2014 to 2016, the newspaper said.
Fiat Chrysler “looks forward to the opportunity to respond to these claims should they be made and to demonstrate its diesel vehicles comply with applicable emissions requirements,” the company said. The French anti-fraud office declined to comment on the Le Monde report.
Regulators in Europe and the US have put diesel models under greater scrutiny after Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to using defeat devices that turned off emissions controls during driving. Fiat Chrysler was sued in May by the US. Justice Department over claims its diesel-powered pickups and SUVs were outfitted with illegal software.
The European Commission opened an infringement procedure against Italy for “failure to fulfill its obligations” in how it tests Fiat Chrysler vehicles, after German authorities escalated to the EU a dispute with Italy over whether the carmaker’s vehicles breached emissions rules.
Under EU rules, Italy is responsible for certifying Fiat cars because the automaker’s regional operations are based in the country.