So many automakers have been caught cheating emissions rules that it’s almost no fun to talk about them anymore, but today, we’re going to do exactly that. Stellantis recently agreed to pay the state of California more than $4 million to settle a case involving the company’s diesel truck emissions violations.
Stellantis agreed to pay a $4.2 million settlement over the California Air Resources Board’s finding that it skirted the rules with the 2014 through 2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500, and 3500 vans powered by a 3.0-liter diesel engine. Stellantis was accused of installing an unapproved device that helped the vans pass emissions testing, which caused the release of nearly 55 tons of excess emissions.
The automaker had previously pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy in a 2022 federal probe, after which it was required to pay a settlement of around $300 million. This latest settlement includes more than $2 million in civil penalties, which will go to California’s pollution control fund. The remaining funds will fund a project providing incentives to cargo ship operators that encourage them to slow down during times of peak wildlife migration and air quality concerns.
We don’t know how many vans Stellantis’ workaround impacts, but the automaker agreed to recall the models as part of the settlement. This likely won’t be the end of the story, however, as the company is just the latest in a long line of automakers caught cheating the system.
[Images: Stellantis]
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Source: The Truth About Cars
