The French authorities have charged Peugeot and Citroen with fraud and concealment of the real level of harmful emissions from cars. This is stated on the website of the Stellantis concern, which PSA Peugeot-Citroen has been a part of since the beginning of 2021.
The investigation concerns the sale of diesel vehicles in France between 2009 and 2015. According to the authorities, the actual level of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions was a multiple of the established limits. At the same time, fraudulent software was used to pass the EU certification tests, which underestimated the amount of NOx produced in the test mode (the same scheme used by Volkswagen until 2015).
As follows from the lawsuit, Peugeot must post a €10 million bond and provide bank guarantees for €30 million. Citroen will contribute €8 million and €25 million, respectively.
Also, representatives of the Italian division of Fiat Chrysler (it is also part of Stellantis) were summoned to the Paris court.
“Management of the companies firmly believe that their emission control systems met all the requirements in force at that time. They hope to get the opportunity to demonstrate this,” the group said in a statement.
Earlier, the French prosecutor's office accused of fraud with the level of emissions of harmful substances Renault. The agency ordered the company to post a bond of €24 million and provide a bank guarantee for an additional €60 million to cover potential losses associated with the charge.
France initiated an investigation against several manufacturers at once back in 2017.
Peugeot and Citroen following Renault accused of underestimating diesel emissions
