Late last week, auto giant Fiat Chrysler agreed to pay out $800M to settle an enforcement action with the U.S. government and private lawsuits with car owners, after admitting that they installed emissions test-cheating devices on diesel Jeeps and trucks resulting in an additional 35,000 tons of pollution. The company is also required to recall and repair the more than 104,000 out-of-compliance Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks. Vehicle owners who are part of the private lawsuit (who bought their vehicles between 2014-2016) will get payouts of about $2,800 per owner. The AP reported that when “asked about the message the settlement would send, acting Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler responded: ‘Don’t cheat.’” Hmmm. Someone at the hearing should ask him about whether he is “cheating” by having EPA staff help him prepare for his confirmation hearing while the government is shut down.
January 14, 2019 » air pollution, Andrew Wheeler, cheat, Chrysler, diesel, EPA, Fiat, Jeep
