Stellantis subsidiary FCA US has agreed to pay $4.2 million to resolve an emissions investigation by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding excess nitrogen oxide emissions from certain diesel vehicles. The settlement, announced on Monday, covers 2014-2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500, and 3500 models equipped with 3.0L diesel engines.
According to CARB, the vehicles in question were found to be fitted with an unapproved emissions control device that circumvented state air quality regulations. This resulted in the release of nearly 55 tons of additional nitrogen oxides (NOx) into California’s air—an amount that significantly exceeds the state’s pollution limits.
As part of the settlement, Stellantis has agreed to recall the affected vehicles and modify their emissions control systems to comply with California’s stringent air quality standards. In addition to the recall, Stellantis will pay a civil penalty of more than $2 million, which will be directed to California’s Air Pollution Control Fund to support statewide air quality initiatives.
A portion of the settlement—$2.1 million—will go towards funding a unique environmental initiative. This project will incentivize ocean-going cargo vessels to slow down in specific regions during peak whale migration and ozone seasons, offering a dual benefit of improving air quality and protecting marine life.
This is not Stellantis’ first settlement related to emissions violations in California. In 2022, the company paid $5.6 million for similar violations involving gasoline-powered vehicles. The company has also faced legal action at the federal level. In 2022, FCA US pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy charges related to diesel emissions fraud and agreed to a $300 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.
In 2019, California reached a settlement with FCA US over allegations that the company used “defeat device software” to bypass emissions tests on over 100,000 diesel vehicles sold across the country. California received more than $78 million as part of the $500 million national settlement.
Stellantis has not yet issued a public statement in response to the settlement but has previously expressed its commitment to meeting regulatory requirements and reducing its environmental impact.
The $4.2 million settlement comes at a time when emissions-related legal scrutiny is intensifying across the automotive industry, underscoring the importance of strict adherence to air quality standards.
Read more: