Ford embroiled in emissions cheating scandal

The US Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Ford’s emissions certification processes.

The news comes two months after Ford engineers disclosed an issue with internal testing procedures. The Blue Oval says it has since cooperated fully with all government agencies.

While investigations are still at a preliminary stage, Ford faces significant financial penalties should it be proven to have incorrectly labelled or otherwise falsified its emissions certifications.

It’s a scenario that recalls the ‘Dieselgate’ scandal that affected more than 10 million Volkswagen Group vehicles in 2015. But unlike VW, Ford’s case does not include the use of so-called “defeat devices”.

Instead, Ford revealed that it adopted a “flawed approach” to the use of computer-generated road-load simulations, including how aerodynamic drag and tyre friction can affect fuel economy outside of the laboratory.

In some cases incorrect kerb weight information was entered into the simulation to produce a more favourable result.

Ford said it is evaluating the process it uses to develop fuel economy and emissions figures, “including engineering, technical and governance components”.

It has held meetings with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and US Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) officials and is said to have provided “all necessary documentation”, including an outline of its testing plans for the new Ford Ranger pick-up.

While authorities have so far declined to comment on Ford’s emissions scandal, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler told US media the agency had enforcement actions “in the works” and said that “when people are not playing by the rules, and are creating more pollution, we will catch them [and] we will hold them accountable”.

Ford is the fourth major vehicle manufacturer in the United States to be investigated for cheating emissions in as many years.

Volkswagen was fined $US4.3 billion for misleading regulators and customers over its diesel engine emission standard in 2017, while Fiat Chrysler Automobiles agreed to an $US800 million civil settlement in January this year.

Mercedes-Benz is also alleged to have falsified its diesel emissions levels, while Kia and Hyundai were found to have inflated the fuel economy ratings of 1.2 million vehicles in the US in 2014.

Suzuki, PSA, Mitsubishi, Nissan and BMW have all previously admitted to emissions cheating in some form, Mitsubishi declaring it had been cheating on fuel economy claims since 1991.