Renault denies wrongdoing as French prosecutors start diesel probe

Source: Newscast /REX/Shutterstock

LONDON (ICIS)–French automotive major Renault on Friday denied any wrongdoing over allegations of manipulating emissions systems in its vehicles.

Earlier in the day, news agency Reuters had reported a source at the French prosecutor’s office had confirmed an ongoing investigation about Renault’s suspected cheating on vehicle exhaust emissions.

Renault’s shares were losing ground by Friday afternoon as a result, down 1.9% by 13:45 GMT, compared to their close on 12 January.

“Groupe Renault acknowledges, without having been able to obtain official confirmation thereof at this stage, the opening of judicial investigations on the ground of ‘deceit on essential qualities and inspections conducted, these facts having led to the products being dangerous for the health of humans or animals’,” said the French automotive major.

“This new development in the procedure would suggest that the Public Prosecutor wishes to continue the investigations.”

Thereafter, the company issued a categorical denial on having misled its customers or the authorities, arguing it complies with all regulations on emissions.

“Renault vehicles are not equipped with cheating software affecting antipollution systems,” it concluded.

The French company’s case follows those of German major Volkswagen (VW) and Fiat Chrysler, the Italian-US major.

On 12 January, the US’ Environmetanl Protection Agency (EPA) alleged that Fiat Chrysler installed software in about 104,000 vehicles that “increased emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the vehicles”.

On 11 January it was also announced that VW had agreed to pay $4.3bn in fines and penalties to resolve US criminal and federal environmental charges related to its diesel emissions scandal which broke in 2015.

The scandal emerged in September 2015 when VW admitted that about 11m of its diesel cars worldwide were equipped with defeat software, enabling them to pass emissions tests.

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