by David Shepardson
(Reuters) – A US unit of the Stellantis group, FCA US, targeted by an investigation by California into excessive emissions from its vehicles, has agreed to pay $4.2 million (4.04 million euros) for end the procedure, the US state said on Monday.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB), the state’s air quality authority, said vehicles suspected of violating the regulation included Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500 and 3500 models built between 2014 and 2016, as well as automobiles equipped with 3L diesel engines.
The State of California specified that these vehicles contained an unauthorized device allowing them to bypass regulatory controls, which would have resulted in the emission of nearly 55 excess tonnes of nitrogen oxides.
In 2022, Stellantis had already paid a $5.6 million settlement to the state in similar charges surrounding its gas-powered vehicles.
Stellantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As part of the procedure, the group agreed to carry out a recall of the vehicles concerned, in order to bring their emissions control system into compliance with Californian regulations.
The settlement of the case includes a civil penalty of more than $2 million to be paid to the California Air Pollution Control Fund.
The rest of the payment, $2.1 million, will go toward a project intended to encourage long-haul merchant ships to slow down at sea during whale season and ozone peaks to preserve wildlife and air quality.
(David Shepardson, Pauline Foret, edited by Augustin Turpin)
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