French Prosecutors Get Report on “Abnormal” Renault Diesel Emissions

Anti-fraud investigators in France have turned over a report to prosecutors that describes “abnormal” nitrogen oxide emissions from some of Renault SA’s diesel-powered vehicles, Reuters says.

France set up a special commission early this year to search for emission test cheating akin to Volkswagen AG’s use of illegal software to manipulate test results. In May the panel reported several diesel models tested to date showed significantly exceeded EU pollution limits for NOx.

The probe found no evidence of cheating. But three members of the panel complained to the Financial Times that the report omitted details about suspicious emission levels found in diesel versions of the Captur small crossover.

Renault denied any wrongdoing and insisted all its vehicles meet EU regulations. In September the company offered to turn over its emission system software code to prove it wasn’t cheating. Today the company repeated its assertion that its diesels comply with EU standards.

France’s finance and industry ministry, which turned over the new report to prosecutors, says it will be up to the country’s court system to decide whether to take further action.