Ram 1500 Diesel Production Resumes Despite No Certification
Fiat Chrysler has resumed production of the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel even though it has yet to receive certification for the engine for the 2017 model year.
Production of the diesel-powered Ram 1500 pickup truck stopped in the middle of last year, after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accused FCA for using undeclared emissions software on the 2014-2016 EcoDiesel Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee. In January, the EPA gave an official Notice of Violation to FCA over the software, saying the automaker illegally altered vehicle emissions under certain circumstances. A civil suit was filed against FCA in May.
The automaker has been adamant that it is working on clarifying “issues related to the Company’s emissions control technology,” and sought certifications for its Ram 1500 diesels in May. It was around this time that FCA said it has developed updated emissions software calibrations that it believes address the concerns of the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
SEE ALSO: FCA, Cummins Being Sued Over Inflated Fuel Economy Numbers
Workers at the company’s Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan have told Automotive News that the plant is back to producing the diesel pickups, making less than two dozen per shift. The model was previously marketed as EcoDiesel and it’s unclear if Ram will resume using the nameplate once the certified pickups hit the market.
It’s likely FCA has resumed production in order to refill inventories as soon as Ram receives certification for the updated diesel trucks.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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