BMW disputes allegation of cartel and emission manipulation

The BMW Group claims to be innocent of fresh emission manipulating charges leveled at the German car industry.

Published On Jul 26, 2017 07:00:00 AM

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Following allegations of secret meetings between German car manufacturers in the midst of the diesel crisis, the BMW Group stresses that the carmakers involved were discussing AdBlue tanking infrastructure in Europe, rather than plotting ways to get around European emissions laws.

Following reports last week of an EU investigation into an alleged cartel between Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, BMW has defended its position. It said in a statement: “BMW Group vehicles are not manipulated and comply with respective legal requirements.”

The BMW Group previously denied any emissions manipulation in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal and has now reaffirmed its position on the matter.

The statement also revealed that official investigations - both national and international - were conducted into BMW regarding diesel manipulation, from which no evidence of wrongdoing was uncovered. Previous investigations into diesel emissions reached Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the PSA Group and Renault, in addition to the widely publicised and ongoing scrutiny of the Volkswagen Group.

In contrast to Audi and Mercedes, which both confirmed last week that some of its respective cars could receive voluntary emissions software tweaks, BMW has stated that there is no need for any tweaking of its Euro 6-standard diesel cars.

However, BMW is continuing to offer a software update for its Euro 5-standard diesels in Europe.