CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office has finalized a $302,500 settlement with Fiat Chrysler as part of a broader multistate settlement with the auto manufacturer.
The office joined AGs from 48 other state as well as Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and Guam alleging Fiat Chrysler – including its subsidiaries FCA US, LLC, VM Motori S.P.A. and VM North America – unlawfully installed software to defeat emissions tests in model year 2014–2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 diesel vehicles.
Nationwide, the multistate agreement will result in Fiat Chrysler paying $72.5 million.
“This settlement highlights the importance of regulatory compliance,” Morrisey said. “No company is above the law. This settlement proves that noncompliance will be brought to light and dealt with accordingly.”
Attorneys general from multiple states found that Fiat Chrysler cheated federal and state emissions tests by calibrating the vehicles’ software to conceal levels of emitted nitrogen oxides and misled consumers by marketing the vehicles as environmentally-friendly, “Eco-Diesel” vehicles.
The settlement also requires Fiat Chrysler to fix the falsely-marketed diesel vehicles, provide consumer restitution and address environmental harm from nitrous oxide emissions.