Germany found unusual increases in the emissions of four Fiat Chrysler vehicles, and Berlin therefore accuses the Italian-American carmaker of using an illegal device to switch off exhaust treatment systems, German government documents showed on Thursday.
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“From our point of view, evidence has been provided of the use of an illegal defeat device” in some diesel-powered Fiat-Chrysler vehicles, the letter from the German transport ministry reads.
Germany’s motor vehicle authority KBA began testing the vehicles of several manufacturers, including Fiat, after Volkswagen’s admission in September a year ago that it had cheated emissions tests with motor-management software.
German government sources have now told AFP that the affected Fiat-Chrysler vehicles include two Fiat 500x models, a Jeep Renegade and a Fiat Doblo. The commission itself doesn’t have the power to enforce a recall, its spokeswoman said, and it is up to German and Italian authorities to resolve the dispute.
“Germany does not share the Italian auto type approval authority’s opinion that the device to switch off exhaust treatment systems is used to protect the engine”, the magazine cited the letter, which was also sent from Berlin to Rome, as saying. Italy’s transport ministry declined to comment Thursday. The Italian authorities have acknowledged the existence of the device, though they said it is used only to protect the engine from extreme temperatures.
In May, Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt criticized Fiat for not showing up for a meeting to discuss emissions irregularities of its diesel vehicles.
Fiat denies any wrongdoing.
At Germany’s prompting, Italy conducted its own tests, but ruled out the existence of an illegal device, the letter said.
Under EU law, each manufacturer earns approval from its national regulator, allowing it to sell vehicles Europe-wide.
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The European Commission has so far downplayed the need for new rules.
