Dutch prosecutors formally investigate Suzuki and Jeep emissions cheating

According to Reuters, on July 10, Dutch prosecutors said they would investigate Suzuki and Jeep for allegedly abusing vehicle emission software. The decision to investigate was made because the Netherlands Road Administration (RDW) had previously found that the exhaust emissions of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Suzuki Vitara models in road tests were "unacceptably high."

The RDW has been investigating "cheating software" for the past year, after Volkswagen was caught using software to manipulate emissions tests in the United States in 2015. The investigation focused on nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel vehicles and found that the actual emissions of vehicles on the road seemed to be higher than the legally permitted range.

RDW pointed out in a statement that it had tested vehicles from several automakers, but found that Jeep and Suzuki's vehicles exceeded emissions standards, and had not found any violations from other automakers. Maarten Balk, who is responsible for licensing and supervision at RDW, said, "For the other 14 automakers, we were able to get to the heart of the matter, asked all the questions we wanted to know, and got satisfactory answers. But for these two, we have not yet received satisfactory answers." RDW said that the automakers all said that the violation occurred because they configured software to protect the engine from damage. According to European law, the above software is allowed.

According to RDW tests, the Suzuki Vitara had high nitrogen oxide emissions soon after it was put on the road. Suzuki has proactively offered to fix it and is currently fixing about 8,000 Vitara vehicles on the road in the Netherlands. As for the Grand Cherokee, RDW said that this model emits more pollutants when the engine temperature is higher. The model is no longer in production and there are very few in the Netherlands.

RDW Director Paul Dietz said this was the first time the agency had conducted such an investigation. However, RDW does not have the power to impose fines and must wait for the prosecutor's decision. However, RDW will continue to put pressure on the two companies, requiring them to provide solutions and ensure that the car companies update the relevant models.

In addition, Dietz also said that in the future, European vehicles must be tested on the road rather than in the laboratory to avoid the use of cheating software to pass the test.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.