An independent foundation in the Netherlands has filed a class action lawsuit against Stellantis, alleging emissions test cheating by one of its predecessor companies, Fiat Chrysler.
The lawsuit, brought by the Dutch non-profit foundation Fiat Chrysler Investors Recovery Stichting, claims that from 2014 to 2017, Fiat Chrysler failed to disclose the installation of illegal software in its vehicles designed to mask emissions levels. This alleged cover-up is said to have significantly harmed investors who bought or held Fiat Chrysler shares during that period.
Stellantis, formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and France’s PSA, responded to the lawsuit by stating that it believes the claims are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously. The legal action follows FCA US LLC’s 2022 guilty plea to criminal conspiracy in connection with a U.S. Justice Department investigation into diesel emissions fraud.
The lawsuit is backed by U.S. asset manager Fortress Investment Group, and the foundation has stated that investors who bought or held Fiat Chrysler shares on the Milan stock exchange between October 2014 and May 2017 may be eligible to join the claim. The case is part of a broader investigation into several automakers, including Stellantis brands like Peugeot and Opel, in the aftermath of Volkswagen’s dieselgate scandal.
The court is expected to decide on the next steps in the case on December 4, as the legal battle unfolds.
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
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