Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV(NYSE:FCAU) facing diesel emissions probe in France

According to reports in France, Watchdogs are probing into claims that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV(NYSE:FCAU) have violated diesel emissions tests.

Reports suggest industry monitoring body in the country have been looking into whether some FCA cars went beyond emissions limits.

Meanwhile Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV(NYSE:FCAU), which is already facing investigation in the UK and US, said it noted the prosecutor’s decision to look into “certain alleged consumer protection violations”. Nevertheless FCA added that its diesel cars fully acted in accordance with with emissions rules.

This French governments ruling arrived following revelations in 2015 that German carmaker Volkswagen broke diesel tests in the US.

France’s consumer affairs body passed a file on Fiat Chrysler to the courts for possible investigation in February.

Tests by French regulators last year, launched in the wake of the VW emissions test-cheating humiliation, revealed pollutants from some Fiat Chrysler and other car maker’s models surpassed regulatory restrictions.

The move by the French prosecutor is the latest indication that questions about diesel pollution tests broaden beyond Volkswagen.

Sources from the French prosecutors said  that it had opened the investigation on 15 March, after the finance ministry’s consumer affairs and anti-fraud body had referred the case to the courts.

“I can confirm that a judicial investigation has been opened into aggravated cheating,” the source said.

Furthermore Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV(NYSE:FCAU) said that its diesel vehicles “fully comply with applicable emissions requirements” in Italy. But the company could not comment on which models were under further investigation in France.

On the other hand, it said that it would “continue to co-operate to any investigations by competent authorities and remains fully confident that the matter will be clarified in due course”.

More UK prosecutors are also testing the emissions of the car maker’s Jeep Grand Cherokee.