Fiat Chrysler accused of cheating emission tests

NEW YORK (AA) - Fiat Chrysler has cheated emission tests using special software in some of its vehicles, the U.S.' Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in a statement Thursday.

The EPA report concerns approximately 104,000 vehicles on which the company is accused of "installing and failing to disclose engine management software". The models are 2014, 2015 and 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with 3.0-liter diesel engines sold in the U.S.

"The undisclosed software results in increased emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the vehicles," the EPA noted in the statement.

“Failing to disclose software that affects emissions in a vehicle’s engine is a serious violation of the law,” Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said in the statement.

German automaker Volkswagen agreed Wednesday to pay $4.3 billion in penalties to U.S. authorities amid its emission scandal that goes back nearly 10 years, affecting 590,000 vehicles sold in the U.S.

Six of Volkswagen employees have been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice, while the company has already fired 10 of its top executives in an internal investigation and CEO Martin Winterkorn resigned.