Stellantis diesel emissions legal proceedings

Stellantis, the parent company of Fiat Chrysler, is facing multiple legal challenges regarding the alleged use of prohibited emissions-control software.

In France, an investigative judge referred the company to criminal court for aggravated deception. The investigation concerns whether vehicles, such as the Fiat 500 Euro 6, were equipped with an “invalidation device” between 2014 and 2017. This software reportedly allowed vehicles to pass official testing while causing “significantly degraded functioning of the pollution control components” during real-world driving, leading to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions that exceeded legal limits.

Simultaneously, a lawsuit has been initiated in the Netherlands involving camper vans equipped with Fiat diesel engines. The legal action, supported by various consumer interest groups, alleges that illegal software was used in vehicles sold between 2009 and 2022 to disable exhaust cleaning systems under normal driving conditions. While Stellantis has reportedly granted compensation to affected owners in Germany, the company has declined to discuss compensation with the groups involved in the Dutch proceedings.