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Report: PSA Accused of Diesel Emission Cheating

France’s consumer watchdog agency, DGCCRF, says PSA Group has used software in nearly 2 million diesel-powered vehicles to evade emission standards, according to Le Monde.
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France’s consumer watchdog agency, DGCCRF, says PSA Group has used software in nearly 2 million diesel-powered vehicles to evade emission standards, according to Le Monde.

PSA denies any fraud. The company insists it has never used software to detect test conditions and activate emission controls that become inactive in real-world driving—something Volkswagen AG admits to doing in 11 million of its diesels.

But Le Monde cites an internal PSA document that discusses the need to “make the ‘defeat device’ aspect less obvious and visible.”

DGCCRF announced in February it had detected suspicious software in diesels made by Fiat Chrysler Automotive, PSA, Renault and Volkswagen.

At the time, PSA said its emission systems are calibrated for maximum reduction of nitrogen oxides, a pollutant linked to respiratory problems, during city driving. But the system recalibrates at highway speeds to allow higher NOx emissions in exchange for lower carbon dioxide emissions and improved fuel economy.

Like several other diesel makers, PSA insists such adjustments are allowed under EU emission testing rules.

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