In various places in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, authorities have invaded employees of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. There are allegedly new indications that the group has cheated with diesel car emissions.
Illegal systems in diesel engines that manipulate emissions tests have been stirring the automotive industry for five years. Although the Volkswagen Group first came to light, the suspicion is not new for Fiat Chrysler either. In 2017, the first allegation was made, addressed to Jeep and Ram. It eventually came to a settlement with the US Justice. Now there seems to have been a wider irregularity spread across the group. The German prosecutor reports, according to Automotive News, that several offices will be searched on Wednesday.
Eurojust, an European Union agency working with all member states to detect criminal activities, has invaded Fiat Chrysler personnel in Germany, Italy and Switzerland. It concerns nine people, whose work is intended to be clarified between 2014 and 2019. The alleged tampering with diesel engines probably took place during that period. The 1.3 MultiJet, 1.6 MultiJet and 2.0 MultiJet are in any case suspicious. Those engines were in various cars of the group. Both at Fiat itself, as at Alfa Romeo and Jeep. As with Volkswagen, there would be software that makes the engines recognize a test cycle and then temporarily behave differently to generate lower emissions.
Fiat Chrysler has not yet responded to the allegations. In 2017, the now deceased CEO Sergio Marchionne stated in response to the charges from then that Fiat Chrysler ‘did not do anything that was not allowed’. Moreover, there is a good chance that the group will ban diesel engines in the coming years. That intention was announced two years ago. However, that may change as it merges with PSA.