Tuesday

3rd Oct 2023

Unpublished report: Italy's Fiat had high emissions

  • During the on-road test with an already warm engine, three of the five most dirty cars were models of Italian carmaker Fiat (Photo: drpavloff)

Several Fiat car models on the road emitted more than twice the EU limit, an unpublished report from the Italian ministry of transport shows.

The report, seen by EUobserver, looked at the results of lab tests and real-world tests of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of 14 models from a variety of manufacturers in a vehicle category limited to 180 milligrams per kilometre.

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During on-road tests with an already warm engine, three of the five most dirty cars were models of Italian carmaker Fiat. The dirtiest one was the Fiat 500L, which emitted almost 450 mg/km. The Fiat Doblo had only a slightly lower figure.

Another Italian carmaker, Alfa Romeo, also didn't fair so well. Its Giuletta model emitted over 400 mg/km.

But neither did American car manufacturer Ford, whose Focus model emitted around 400 mg/km.

The Ford S-Max, the Mercedes Class E, the VW Tiguan, and the Fiat Panda also emitted above the EU limit of 180 mg/km.

The report is the fourth investigation of a major EU member state into real-world emissions, triggered by the Volkswagen cheating scandal.

In April, the UK and Germany published their reports, which showed similar high emissions in the real world.

A French report was released after some delay on 29 July.

The Italian report is dated 27 July, but it has not yet been made public.

Earlier this month, the Italian transport ministry said that Fiat used no cheating devices on its vehicles.

However, Germany has accused the Italian authorities of not doing enough to investigate Fiat.

'Incomplete'

At a plenary debate about the EU parliament's Dieselgate inquiry committee, known as EMIS, on Tuesday (13 September), Italian MEP Eleonora Evi criticized the report, which has been shared with EU institutions before official publication. She said it was “deliberately incomplete”.

“The investigation of 15 cars initially cited in the report, follow different procedures depending on whether the car tested was FCA group or not”, she said, referring to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

“We are facing a clumsy attempt to hide the real values ​​of Fiat cars,” said Evi, member of the Five Star Movement. She said her party “will propose to send back this report which is an offense to EMIS committee, the EP and the Italian and European citizens.”

Fiat questions 'fantastical' EU emissions tests

Italian-American car maker Fiat had "no explanations" for tests showing its cars polluted above EU limits when questioned by MEPs, described some tests as “fantastical”.

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