“Is Renault cheating emissions too?” – The French manufacturers are subject to criminal investigations following the VW cheating emissions scandal

The French manufacturer, Renault, may be subject to the next ‘big car emissions scandal’.

Recently, DGCCRF, the French anti-fraud investigators, referred Renault to prosecutors in what seems to be a deja vu scenario with VW. The reason for the referral is because allegations have arisen surrounding alleged abnormal emissions of the NOx pollutants from their diesel engines.

Investigations

Following the VW revelations, we always knew that it was likely that other car manufacturers would be subject to similar probes of their diesel vehicles. A file on Renault has been passed onto state prosecutors to look into their alleged involvement – if any – of cheating emissions too. The file said that “it is now up to the courts to determine what further action to take over the suspected failings”.

If Renault are found to have breached consumer and emission laws, big penalties could be imposed on them.

Raids

Following the breaking of the VW scandal, authorities have not been holding back.

In January this year, Renault factories – including the HQs, the Renault Technical Centre in Lardy, and the Technocentre in Guyancourt – were raided in a bid to check (find incriminating evidence) if they were acting in accordance with regulations. According to the authorities, the aim of the raid was to see how Renault was using their emissions technology and, since then, Renault has been subject to a thorough investigation as additional on-site and material investigations were made.

There was full cooperation from Renault, but that doesn’t necessarily demonstrate their innocence…

Denial

As of yet, there hasn’t been any incriminating evidence, and Renault stressed that the tests and raids have not found any alleged cheating “defeat devices”. This was also supported by the French Energy minister, Segolene Royal, who said that the “tests had not uncovered software designed to cheat emissions test”. As I always say, there is no smoke without fire. If Renault are found to have cheating software, like VW, there may be strong repercussions.

Are other car manufacturers doing it too?

I suspect many car manufacturers are fuming over the VW scandal as they will likely be subject to further investigations. This was confirmed by the CGT Renault union, where raids were likely to be “linked to the consequences of the VW rigged-engines affair”. As a result of the recent investigations, Renault has pledged that they will pump £38 million into bringing real emissions in line with those measured in testing conditions. Does that suggest some of their guilt in cheating emissions? It could well be.

But one thing is for certain – the popular view is that the VW Emissions Scandal is but scratching the surface, and the reality is that other manufactures may also have been acting immorally and or illegally.