Ford Rival Stellantis Will Pay $4.2M For Emissions Violation

The state of California has long sought to impose its own, stricter emissions requirements, an endeavor that has faced its fair share of legal battles over the past few years. For now at least, California has been granted a waiver by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that supports its right to do so, meaning that the state will aim to phase out the sale of new, pure ICE vehicles by 2035. In the meantime, one of Ford’s biggest rivals – Stellantis – will now pay the state of California millions for its own emissions violations there.

According to Reuters, Stellantis has agreed to pay California $4.2 million after the California Air Resources Board (CARB) determined that some of the company’s diesel models violated air quality regulations by emitting more emissions than allowed by law. CARB found that 2014-2016 Ram ProMaster 1500, 2500, and 3500 models utilizing the 3.0L diesel engine were equipped with a device that circumvented emissions control. This device reportedly led to 55 tons of excess oxides of nitrogen being released into the air.

As such, Stellantis has agreed to pay the $4.2 million dollar fine, as well as recall the models impacted by this judgement, after which it will modify the emissions systems to ensure they meet state regulations. Of that $4.2 million total, $2.1 million will be used for a project that aims to provide incentives for ocean-going cargo vessels that slow down in certain areas during peak whale and ozone season, while the remaining $2 million is reserved for California’s Air Pollution Control Fund.

Ford is also feeling the impacts of California’s stricter emissions rules, as it is no longer selling select 2025 Ford Super Duty diesel-powered chassis cab models in that state due to increasing emissions standards. This decision stems from California’s mandate banning the sale of diesel-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2036, which passed last year. The state is trying to prompt fleets to convert to EVs or hydrogen-powered alternatives in the coming years, though they are also set to be forced to do precisely that by 2042.