When “dieselgate” first broke, we asked the all important question: who is next?
Then, Mitsubishi admitted to cheating emissions testing as far back as 1991, and we still asked the same important question: who is next!?
Well, German authorities are pointing the finger at Italian carmakers Fiat after claims of irregularities during emissions testing has raised questions as to whether they are also involved in an emissions cheating scandal of their own.
Investigations by the German government suggests that irregularities in the emissions results appear when certain models are tested for more than 22 minutes. As the official emissions test last for around 20 minutes, it’s an irregularity that cannot be ignored – it’s too coincidental to be ignored.
This means that there is now the very real possibility that Fiat have also been using “defeat devices” to cheat tests in the same way Volkswagen have. To be clear, at the moment, the investigation is ongoing, so we do not yet know if Fiat has been cheating emissions testing at all.
The evidence though certainly raises eyebrows. Reportedly, the emissions treatment system “throttled back” after 22 minutes of testing. This could suggest that software similar to that being used by Volkswagen was switching off or manipulating the onboard computers to allow higher emissions when vehicles were out in the real world.
With the testing systems being so meticulously managed and strictly conducted according to a very set of specific rules, it’s easy to see how onboard software can manipulate results.
If Fiat has been cheating emissions testing, we will act!
If it transpires that Fiat have been using “defeat devices” to manipulate and therefore falsify and misrepresent emissions results, we will take action!
Our Car Emission Lawyers have already initiated High Court proceedings against Volkswagen and we will be taking action against other manufactures if it transpires that they have also been cheating the system.
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