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A case alleging Fiat Chrysler cheated on emissions tests is allowed to proceed in California.
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A federal judge in California will allow litigation to proceed against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and auto supplier Bosch related to alleged diesel emissions cheating.
Judge Edward Chen of the U.S. District Court for Northern California issued his decision Thursday in the case involving an estimated total of 100,000 2014-16 EcoDiesel Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles.
An attorney for the plaintiffs cheered the decision, which was related to defense motions to dismiss the claims.
“We are pleased with the court’s decision, giving a green light to our claims,” lead plaintiffs’ counsel Elizabeth Cabraser said in a statement. “We will continue to hold Fiat and Bosch accountable for the economic and environmental harm they caused. Fiat Chrysler cheated U.S. emissions tests and emitted harmful pollutants at illegally high levels far in excess of what would be considered environmentally friendly,”
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Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has previously denied that the company purposely tried to cheat emissions tests. However, the company also faces a Justice Department suit claiming that it installed defeat devices on some of its vehicles.
The allegations are similar to those in the massive Volkswagen scandal, which resulted in billions of dollars in penalties as well as criminal charges or sentencings involving numerous current and former VW officials and employees.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.
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