Dieselgate: BMW forced to deny emissions rigging

German car magazine Auobild has claimed the BMW X3 SUV exceeds current European air pollution limits, helping wipe almost 10 per cent off BMW’s share value over fears it too could be embroiled in the Dieselgate emissions scandal so far only involving Volkswagen.

According to Autobild the X3, when tested, emitted 11 times the European limit following tests carried out by the International Council on Clean Transportation -- the same group that tipped off the US government that Volkswagen had cheated its EPA tests.

Overnight BMW was forced to issue a statement.

“The BMW Group does not manipulate or rig any emissions tests. We observe the legal requirements in each country,” said the official statement.

Despite the failure by the X3, the larger X5 and 13 other BMWs tested all complied, hinting the X3’s failure is not indicative of the widespread cheating Volkswagen is accused of.

Overnight Jaguar Land Rover, Renault, Mercedes-Benz and even Lamborghini and Bentley have all rigorously denied manipulating the emissions test.

Renault has used the scandal to welcome the tightening of the testing procedure that’s set to be introduced on 2017.

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