Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Dec. 22, 2023:
Cummins Inc. has reached an agreement with the federal government and California to settle claims regarding its emissions certification and compliance process for certain engines primarily used in pickup truck applications.
According to the Department of Justice, Cummins has agreed to pay a $1.675 billion penalty to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by installing "emissions defeat" devices on hundreds of thousands of engines.
Cummins said it “has cooperated fully with the relevant regulators, already addressed many of the issues involved, and looks forward to obtaining certainty as it concludes this lengthy matter.”
Cummins also said that it conducted an extensive internal review and worked collaboratively with the regulators for more than four years, adding that it “has seen no evidence that anyone acted in bad faith and does not admit wrongdoing.”
DOJ said Cummins allegedly installed defeat devices on 630,000 model year 2013 to 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup truck engines. The company also allegedly installed undisclosed auxiliary emission control devices on 330,000 model year 2019 to 2023 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup truck engines.
Cummins noted that it has already recalled model year 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 trucks and has initiated a recall of model years 2013 through 2018 RAM 2500 and 3500 trucks, and previously accrued a total of $59 million for the estimated costs for executing these and other related recalls.
