Fiat Chrysler sued over emissions cheat

DETROIT — The U.S. government sued Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV on Tuesday, alleging that some of its diesel pickups and Jeep SUVs cheat on emissions tests.

The Justice Department alleges that Fiat Chrysler put eight “software-based features” on diesel engines in nearly 104,000 Ram pickups and Jeep Grand Cherokees from the 2014 to 2016 model years. The software allowed the vehicles to emit fewer pollutants during lab tests by the Environmental Protection Agency than during normal driving conditions.

The 3-liter Fiat Chrysler diesel engines emit nitrogen oxide at a much higher rate than allowed under federal laws when on the road, the EPA said in a statement.

The Italian-American automaker said in a statement Tuesday that it is disappointed that the lawsuit was filed because it has been working with the EPA for months to clarify pollution-control issues. Fiat Chrysler has contended that, unlike Volkswagen, it did not install the software with intent to cheat on tests.

“The company intends to defend itself vigorously, particularly against any claims that the company engaged in any deliberate scheme to install defeat devices to cheat U.S. emissions tests,” the statement said.