Nissan used illegal software to conceal diesel emissions
Nissan used illegal software to hide the emissions of its diesel cars according to a report from Dutch website Follow the Money (FTM). Journalists obtained a letter from the German automotive authority, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), in which said the software was installed in vehicles sold throughout Europe between 2016 and 2019.
This finding places Nissan on a growing list of carmakers that have been caught using deceptive software to mask high emission levels during tests. Similar ‘defeat devices’ were previously found in vehicles made by the giant Volkswagen (owner of the brands Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda), and later in cars from Stellantis (owner of Opel, Peugeot and Citroën).
In a 2023 statement, the KBA confirmed the presence of unlawful manipulation tools in Nissan vehicles. According to Peter Teffer of FTM, this wording is clear evidence of a breach of European legislation. While other manufacturers faced public condemnation and hefty fines, Nissan appears to have escaped any significant consequences.
Nissan escapes heavy fines
FTM reported that Nissan was only required to recall the affected vehicles and update the software to remove the manipulation tools. No fines were imposed. However, not all vehicles have received this update.
Although other European Union member states could in theory impose fines, the fact that the KBA did not inform them about the nature of the issue is cause for concern. The authority merely cited a “technical reason” for the necessary software update, with no mention of manipulation tools.
The FTM journalist noted that the KBA’s reluctance to share information with other EU authorities is, regrettably, not surprising given its reputation for poor communication. He stresses, however, that this lack of transparency undermines the trust citizens place in regulatory bodies.
Business AM
Subscribers 0
Fans 0
Followers 0
Followers