Renault Offers Diesel Software Update to Cut Emissions

Renault SA is preparing a software patch for 700,000 diesel-powered Captur small crossovers to reduce their nitrogen oxides emissions.

The voluntary offer, which is not part of a formal recall, applies only to Euro 6-spec diesels. Renault emphasizes the targeted engines meet emission standards under current test procedures.

Renault expects to reveal details about the adjustment in March and begin conducting voluntary engine checks for affected owners in July. The software update aims to narrow the gap between lab certification tests for NOx and emission levels typical of vehicles on the road.

The Captur was one of several Ford, Mercedes-Benz and Renault models found by government tests to have significant discrepancies between the two measures, according to Les Echos.

Thierry Bollore, chief competitive officer, disputes the magnitude of some of the findings but acknowledges to reporters, “We have room for improvement.” Unlike Volkswagen AG, which installed devices in 11 million of its diesels specifically to evade emission standards, Renault is neither cheating nor trying to trick customers, Bollore adds.