Renault scrambles to avoid Volkswagen-like emission scandal as it recalls 15,000 cars
Renault has taken steps to prevent its brand image suffering a similar fate to Volkswagen’s by recalling 15,000 new cars.
Renault
The French carmaker has found itself on a slippery slope after tests showed emission levels from a number of its vehicles were too high. In response the company has recalled the vehicles before they go on sale.
Further damage was inflicted on the company’s image after fraud investigators raided three of its sites last week.
The negative publicity surrounding the raid led to billions of euros being wiped off its market value amid fears that it could be embroiled in a similar scandal to Volkswagen.
The company’s sales director, Thierry Koskas, was quick to dispel any notion that it may have acted in a similar manner as its German rival which admitted using cheat software to fool pollution test detectors.
During a presentation on the group's 2015 sales performance Koskas said: “Renault did not cheat... We are not using any software or other methods."
French Energy Minister Segolene Royal said Renault was not the only car company in France to break the rules on carbon dioxide and nitrogen emissions, however no other companies were named.
She said the tests should be based on real driving conditions in order to negate the suggestion that the emission readings are much lower in laboratory-style conditions.
"Renault has committed to recalling a certain number of vehicles, more than 15,000 vehicles, to check them and adjust them correctly so the filtration system works even when it is very hot or when it is below 17 degrees, because that's when the filtration system no longer worked," Ms Royal said.
In response to the test results Renault has promised to come up with a "technical plan" to bring down the level of emissions from its vehicles.