PSA Group accused of cheating diesel car emissions in almost two million vehicles; including Peugeot and Citroen

According to French newspaper Le Monde, the major car company jointly owned by Peugeot, a Chinese holding company, and the French state is being investigated for allegedly cheating emissions for diesel vehicles.

The motor group sells Peugeot, Citroen, DS automobiles, Opel and Vauxhall vehicles across the globe, bar the U.S., Canada and India.

It’s reportedly suspected that up to two million of their vehicles may be fitted with illegal software that can manipulate emissions outputs. The story screams of similarities to that of the VW Emissions Scandal, where 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide were fitted with software that falls within the definition of a so-called “defeat device”.

Damning evidence reportedly found

The investigation is being brought by the French DGCCRF; the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Repression of Fraud. The consumer and fraud watchdog began investigations into the motor group after the Volkswagen emissions scandal forced authorities to question whether such practices were widespread in the motor industry. The French DGCCRF have already looked into other car makers like Renault and Fiat Chrysler with these suspicions in mind.

The French authority has reportedly found a piece of damning correspondence that not only implicates the motor group of using cheating software but also an alleged intention to hide it.

The internal PSA Group document apparently stated the need “to make the ‘defeat device’ aspect less obvious and visible.”

That’s a fairly candid statement if found to be true…

What is a “defeat device”?

A “defeat device” is a term used to describe software like that in the Volkswagen emissions scandal that’s specifically programmed to cheat emissions testing. The devices were able to do this by recognising the strict parameters used for official emissions testing like the speed and acceleration rate of the vehicle and the temperature of the room. When the device identifies that a vehicle is being tested, emissions-reducing controls can be engaged to allow for acceptable results so the vehicle can pass the legal threshold.

However, outside the stringent testing parameters – i.e. on the real roads – emissions are not being reduced, leading to excessive emissions of up to 40 times the legal limit being spewed into the air in some instances reported.

Although VW admit the use of so-called defeat devices in the U.S., they bizarrely deny that their software amounts to a “defeat device” in Europe.

Make of that what you will…

PSA Group said to be “surprised” by the findings…

PSA Group’s engineering chief, Gilles le Borgne, has apparently told reporters that:

“…we are extremely surprised, even shocked by this decision.”

The company denies the use of so-called “defeat devices” to cheat emissions testing. However, according to online motor magazine AutoExpress, le Borgne has previously acknowledged that PSA Group:

“…deliberately cuts emissions control at higher temperatures to improve efficiency and reduce CO2 output in out-of-town driving where NOx emissions matter less.”

This “reason” is similar to the one presented by Fiat-Chrysler when they were investigated over allegations of cheating emission testing as well. There appears to be a number of car-makers seemingly attempting to use questionable loopholes to manipulate NOx emissions for what may be “legal” reasons.

At the end of the day though, whether this activity is allowed or not, the greater problem of emissions being too high remains.