FCA’s 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel.FCA US today issued the following statement in response to a civil lawsuit filed against the company by the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ-ENRD):
FCA has been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for many months, including extensive testing of the vehicles, to clarify issues related to the company’s emissions control technology in 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles.
FCA is currently reviewing the complaint, but is disappointed that the DOJ-ENRD has chosen to file this lawsuit. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously, particularly against any claims that the Company engaged in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat U.S. emissions tests.
As FCA announced last week, it has developed updated emissions software calibrations that it believes address the concerns of EPA and CARB, and has now formally filed for diesel vehicle emissions certification with the regulators for its 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles. Subject to the permission of EPA and CARB, FCA intends to install the same modified emissions software in 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles. FCA believes this will address the agencies’ concerns regarding the emissions software calibrations in those vehicles.
FCA expects that the installation of these updated software calibrations will improve the 2014-2016 vehicles’ emissions performance and does not anticipate any impact on performance or fuel efficiency.
Notwithstanding this lawsuit, FCA remains committed to working cooperatively with EPA and CARB to resolve the agencies’ concerns quickly and amicably.
