Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ U.S. division has agreed to plead to criminal conduct and to pay approximately $300 million in fines to settle a multiyear investigation into emissions fraud involving vehicles with diesel engines.
FCA US LLC is now a part of Stellantis. The people who spoke to me said that it pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of conspiracy arising out of its efforts to evade emission requirements for over 100,000 older Jeep sport-utility and Ram pickup trucks in its U.S. line.
The deal, which was negotiated with officials of the U.S. Justice Department, could be announced as early as next week. However, timing may slip. The company will then enter its plea of guilty during a later hearing in a U.S. District Court.
Model years 2014 through 2016 are affected. In 2021, FCA and French Peugeot manufacturer PSA will merge to form Stellantis.
Stellantis, as well as the Justice Department, declined to comment.
Five years after the plea bargain, Volkswagen, In a scandal known as “Dieselgate,” pleaded guilty to criminal charges in order to resolve the emissions crisis that affected nearly 600,000.
Volkswagen’s deception prompted additional scrutiny, and officials from both sides of the Atlantic cracked down on automakers who were accused of using illegal software called defeat devices to fool government emission tests.
European automakers used so-called clean Diesel technology to build vehicles that would comply with stricter environmental regulations, only to discover that they polluted more on the roads than in the tests that approved them for sale. The automakers are now concentrating their efforts on battery-powered electric vehicles.
One person said that negotiations between FCA lawyers and U.S. officials to resolve the current investigation dragged out for years and through several presidential administrations as both sides haggled about whether the company would admit guilt and, if so, the specific details of any criminal charges,
FCA employee is preparing for trial over allegations that he misled regulators regarding pollution caused by the vehicles under investigation. The Justice Department announced charges last year against two more FCA employees for the alleged fraud in emissions.
Indictments allege that employees conspired with each other to install defeat devices into vehicles in order to fool government emission tests and pollute roads beyond legal limits.
FCA previously settled civil claims related to the allegations while denying that it intentionally tried to cheat in emissions tests.
The current global auto manufacturers are, therefore, relying on the continued sales boom in Asian economies as well as the recovery of the American automotive market. To maintain its competitive edge in engine technology with low emissions, Europe has signaled to car manufacturers that they must adhere to fuel economy and emission targets before 2025. The European Parliament Environment Committee has confirmed the proposed limit for 2020 of 95 g carbon dioxide/km, which means that the average vehicle should need approximately 4 l for a 100-km driving range. The European Parliament’s Environment Committee also decided to reduce emissions by 2025 to between 68 and 78 g/km for a 100-kilometer driving capacity of three liters.
The remainder of the article follows the same structure. The next section describes the challenges–environmental and health-related–that the industry currently faces. The latest developments in developing nations such as China or India are also discussed. The third section focuses on environmental regulations relevant to the automotive industry. Finally, the fourth section explores selected technological innovations in automotive technologies that reduce emissions and save fuel.
Environmental and Health Challenges
Five months after the Rio Summit 2012 on sustainable development and green economy, an agreement was reached for the extension of the Kyoto Protocol. This Protocol, which was signed in 1997 with the intention of imposing binding restrictions on industrialized countries in order to reduce their emissions, was set to expire by 2012. The landmark agreement is subject to two deadlines: (a) 2015 for the development and implementation of an expanded Kyoto Protocol and (b) 2020 for its performance. Unfortunately, global emission levels could not be reduced in the lead-up to 2012. After a first decline in 2008-2009, emissions have increased again. In 2012, greenhouse gas emissions were 20 % higher than in 2000, which in absolute terms amounts to 50 gigatonnes more carbon equivalent [4]. Transport already consumes over 50% of global oil supplies, with road transport taking up 75% of that share. The fact is that fuel used for transportation (at least in the majority of industrialized economies) is taxed higher than fuels used for heating or electricity.
Global challenges include reducing energy demand and reducing emissions from vehicles. To meet these challenges, it is crucial to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The increase in vehicle emissions is evident, especially in big cities, where cars are the major contributors to air pollution. In developing countries, the problem is worsened by an inefficient public transport system, lax emissions norms, and a slow adoption of clean automotive technology. Beijing’s air pollution has been rated as one of the world’s worst megacities. Global Burden of Disease Study (2010) states that outdoor air pollution caused 1.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2010. This is about 40% of all premature deaths. The study found that ambient particulate (PM) from vehicle emissions was the fourth most important risk factor in China. According to the same research, air pollution was ranked seventh on the list of global risks. This alarm sounded, and efforts were renewed to implement stricter environmental standards, focus on cleaner transportation technologies, and revitalize efforts in China to jump-start the electric vehicle industry. India is another example of a developing country that suffered from similar levels of air pollution in 2010. This led to 620,000 premature deaths. The preference of Chinese consumers has shifted from fuel-efficient midsize, compact cars, sedans, and hatchbacks to large sport utility vehicles and hatchbacks. The result is that China’s import costs are increasing, and air pollution is worsening. This also forces regulators to tighten up regulations. Automobile companies have responded by opening new assembly plants and engine factories in order to satisfy the growing demand for automobiles in such a large market.
