Germany Accuses FCA Of Diesel Engine Emissions Cheat

The German Transport Ministry has sent a letter to the European Commission accusing FCA of using a device that switches off exhaust treatment systems in diesel engines.

According to Autonews, the original report came from German magazine WirtschaftsWoche, where it was revealed that additionally, tests found a “special nitrogen oxide catalyst which is being switched off after a few cleaning cycles.”

The magazine cited the letter which said “Germany does not share the Italian car type approval authority’s opinion that the device to switch off exhaust treatment system is used to protect the engine.”

Affected vehicles include the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade, which share the same platform, as well as the Fiat Doblo van – with the engine in question being Fiat’s latest 2.0-liter diesel.

Of course, this isn’t the first time FCA have been in trouble in Germany. Back in May, German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt criticized FCA for being uncooperative after not showing up to a meeting regarding emissions irregularities of diesel engines.

As of right now, neither FCA, the German Transport Ministry or the Italian Transport Ministry have been available for comments.