BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen face European emission survey

German automakers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen are facing an EU investigation for allegedly conspiring to restrict diesel emission treatment systems.

The European Commission said it was seeking to determine whether it agreed to limit the development of systems to reduce harmful emissions.

According to her, if this is proven, it could mean that consumers have been denied the opportunity to buy cleaner cars.

The companies were the subject of a search in 2017 as part of previous Commission investigations.

The Commission stated that its thorough investigation was aimed at determining whether car manufacturers have agreed, in violation of EU antitrust rules, to avoid competing with technology to clean up gasoline emissions and diesel cars.

He said he was focusing on information indicating that companies, including Audi and Porsche, owned by VW, had met to discuss the development and deployment of emissions technology.

Two types of emission control systems are under study:

• Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems that Reduce Diesel Oxide Emissions from Diesel Engines
• "Otto" particulate filters reduce emissions from petrol cars.

"The Commission's in-depth investigation into this case concerns a specific cooperation suspected of aiming to limit technical development or to prevent the deployment of technical devices," the statement added.

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Daimler and VW both issued statements saying that they were cooperating fully with the authorities.

Daimler also pointed out that the proceeding concerned exclusively Europe and that there was no allegation of pricing.

The Commission indicated that it had no evidence that car manufacturers were coordinating themselves for the use of fraudulent "defeat devices".

Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to have used a "defeat device" software in the US to cheat diesel engine emissions tests, plunging the company into scandal.

Since then, irregularities in emissions have emerged at several major car manufacturers, although none has been found to be as serious as at Volkswagen.