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The
settlement, which is subject to court approval, resolves
allegations Bosch participated in misconduct by providing
hardware, software, and software programming or calibration
services to Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler - now known as
Stellantis - "when it knew or should have known that these auto
manufacturers were violating environmental and consumer
protection laws," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
Bosch confirmed the settlement but said it "neither acknowledges
the validity of the claims brought forward, nor does it concede
any liability."
Under the settlement, Bosch must disclose to California if it
concludes a manufacturer will use or has used software to evade
emissions rules.
"Bosch violated consumer trust when it gave Volkswagen and Fiat
Chrysler the technology they needed to skirt state and federal
emissions tests," Bonta said. "Bosch's actions facilitated one
of the biggest environmental crimes of our time, and today, they
are paying the price."
Bosch previously agreed to pay more than $400 million to U.S.
diesel VW and Fiat Chrysler owners and resolve claims from state
attorneys general over diesel emissions.
Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to using illegal software to cheat
U.S. pollution tests, pleaded guilty as part of a $4.3 billion
settlement reached with the Justice Department that overall cost
the German automaker more than $30 billion in fines, penalties
and vehicle buyback costs.
Diesel car owners sued Bosch in 2015 claiming the company helped
design secret "defeat device” software that allowed VW to evade
emissions rules and alleged Bosch was a “knowing and active
participant” in Volkswagen’s decade-long scheme.
Stellantis' FCA US unit in June pleaded guilty to criminal
conspiracy and agreed to pay $300 million to resolve a Justice
Department diesel emissions fraud investigation.
Fiat Chrysler previously paid a $311 million civil penalty and
$183 million in compensation to more than 63,000 people as part
of a class-action diesel lawsuit.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and
Lincoln Feast)
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