California hits Michigan automaker with $4.1 million fine for diesel emissions cheating

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) reached a multi-million dollar settlement with a major Michigan-headquartered automaker.

On December 23, 2024, CARB announced a settlement agreement with FCA US LLC (operating as Stellantis) of Auburn Hills, Michigan, totaling $4,185,820 to answer accusations of violations of California air quality regulations.

According to CARB, model year 2014 through 2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L inline-4 diesel engines were configured with “an unapproved device that circumvented emissions control and did not comply with the emissions standards used when the engine was originally certified for sale in California.”

Officials accused the automaker of releasing nearly 55 tons of excess oxides of nitrogen due to the unapproved device.

The company has settled similar emissions cheating allegations with CARB in 2022 and 2019.

About half of the civil penalty will go to CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, and the other half will be put towards a project to provide incentives for ocean-going cargo vessels to slow down in certain areas during peak whale and ozone seasons to provide wildlife and air quality benefits.

“CARB’s robust compliance testing ensures that auto manufacturers sell the exact vehicles that received certification for sale within California, without alterations made to skirt the state’s regulations and release excess emissions that harm air quality and public health,” said CARB Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cliff.