Frankfurt, Dec 7 (AFP) German prosecutors today said theyhave opened a preliminary inquiry into allegations that luxurycarmaker BMW used a defeat device to cheat diesel emissionstests in at least one of its models.
It comes after environmental group DUH this week saidtests carried out on a 2106 BMW 320d showed the car emittedhigher harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels on the road than inthe lab, and well beyond legal limits.
"Investigators have begun a preliminary probe" intopossible irregularities in BMW's emissions control systems, aspokeswoman from the Munich prosecutor's office told DPA newsagency.
BMW has fiercely rejected the allegations, saying itsvehicles had passed all regulatory tests and accusing DUH ofsubjecting the car to "atypical driving conditions".
DUH chief Juergen Resch told reporters on Tuesday therewere "very strong indications" BMW had installed a cheatingdevice in the tested model.
A preliminary investigation is used by prosecutors todetermine if there is enough evidence to suggest a crime hasbeen committed.
It is not on the same level as a formal investigation,according to DPA.
The German transport ministry has also said it will lookinto the allegations made by DUH.
The controversy marks the latest fallout from the"dieselgate" scandal that erupted when Volkswagen admitted in2015 to using cheating software in 11 million diesel carsworldwide to dupe pollution tests.
Suspicions have since spread to other carmakers and casta pall over Germany's vaunted auto industry, which producesaround one in five vehicles sold worldwide.
Volkswagen is still grappling with the fallout from thescandal, which has so far cost the auto giant more than 25billion euros (USD 30 billion) in fines, compensation andrecalls. (AFP)NSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.