Opel in the sights of the German authorities

The car manufacturer Opel, a subsidiary of PSA, is subject to an investigation by the German authorities in connection with the scandal of diesel engines rigged, said Saturday the German Ministry of Transport. "There is an official hearing against Opel on three (diesel) 'Euro 6' models," a spokesman for the ministry said, adding that "nothing definite" could be said before the results.

Some 60,000 vehicles would be involved in the world. In its forthcoming edition Sunday, the tabloid, which does not quote its sources, says that the Federal Automobile Agency KBA, guardianship of the German automotive sector, holds "strong evidence" that the gas management system of Exhaust from certain Opel diesel models will shut down completely while driving "for reasons that are not technically explainable". According to Bild these are the models Cascada, Insignia and Zafira. A total of 60,000 vehicles would be affected worldwide, including 10,000 in Germany.

"Current production is not affected, however." They would exceed "more than 10 times" nitrogen oxide emission standards, writes Bild. "Current production is not affected, however," the report continues, citing sources inside Opel. According to Bild the KBA informed Opel "this week" of his suspicions and gave him "two weeks" to give his answer. Opel claimed in 2016 "do not install illegal software" in its cars. "Our engines meet the legal standards", had then indicated the manufacturer, recalls Bild .

Several German prosecutors opened investigations for fraud. The rigged diesel engine scandal erupted in September 2015, after the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused Volkswagen of equipping 11 million of its diesel cars, including about 600,000 in the United States. software capable of distorting the results of pollution tests and concealing emissions sometimes exceeding 40 times the authorized standards. Since then, several German public prosecutors have launched investigations into fraud, stock market manipulation or misleading advertising against employees of Volkswagen and its Audi and Porsche brands, but also of Daimler and the supplier Bosch.

Detention pending trial of the former boss of Volkswagen. Several senior executives of Volkswagen, including former boss Martin Winterkorn, are subject to various investigations for fraud, manipulation of stock market or misleading advertising. In June, the German judiciary remanded the head of Volkswagen's Audi manufacturer, the first incarceration of a very senior official in this sprawling investigation.