A U.S. Justice Department legal representative stated at a court hearing on Wednesday it could take “weeks or months” before regulators choose whether to approve a software repair for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV diesel automobiles.
In May, the Justice Department took legal action against Fiat Chrysler, alleging the automaker of illegally using software to bypass emission controls in 104,000 diesel automobiles sold since 2014
Fiat Chrysler legal representative Robert Giuffra said the company is positive regulators will approve the company’s proposed software update as part of certifying 2017 diesel models to permit them to go on sale then use that software to update the 104,000 automobiles on the road.
Leigh Rende, a Justice Department legal representative, stated at a San Francisco federal court hearing “there is uncertainty” regarding the repair will be approved. “It could be weeks or months away,” Rende stated of a decision. “This is truly a technical decision.”
The U.S. EPA and California Air Resources Board alleged Fiat Chrysler in January of using undisclosed software to permit excess diesel emissions in 104,000 U.S. 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks in a notice of offense in January.
Fiat Chrysler has stated it does not believe the software update would affect performance or fuel efficiency and has held 6 meetings and calls with regulators during the last three weeks.
The January notification was the outcome of an investigation that emerged from regulators’ examination of competing Volkswagen‘s excess emissions.
Fiat Chrysler deals with over 20 lawsuits from dealers and owners over the supposed excess emissions.
U.S. District Judge Edward Chen is likewise supervising suits submitted against Robert Bosch GmbH coming from its role in developing the Fiat Chrysler diesel motor.
