BMW rejects accusations that it cheated on emissions

Environmental Action German (DUH) says its recent tests suggested that German carmaker BMW used defeat devices like those at the heart of the so called Dieselgate scandal to throttle nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions on the test stand, despite having repeatedly claimed that its cars had not been manipulated. The carmaker meanwhile insisted that it did not use such devices, news agency Reuters reports. “There are no activities of technical provisions to affect the test mode used to measure emissions," Reuters quotes BMW as saying in a statement. It argues that emissions levels are not affected by whether the car is used on a test stand or in real-world driving conditions, Reuters reports.  The DUH says that BMW’s diesel cars do not abide by emissions limits under real-world driving conditions. The organisation cites measurements made by the Federal Transport Ministry (BMVI) to prove its point. DUH head Jürgen Resch said the tests provide “clear evidence” that BMW has used illicit devices in its engines.

Find the DUH press release in German here, and the Reuters article in English here.

See CLEW’s dieselgate timeline and the factsheet Early e-car starter BMW plans new mobility sprint  for background.