Renault to target diesel pollution

Renault says it plans a software upgrade to cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from its diesel engines, which have come under fire for their relatively high emissions in the wake of the Volkswagen test-rigging scandal.

Following VW’s exposure last September for using software ‘defeat devices’ to cheat US regulatory tests, the French carmaker has drawn public and investor scrutiny over its own emissions performance.

Besides VW’s outright cheating, the diesel scandal has heightened awareness of real-world NOx emissions by the broader car industry far exceeding those measured in flawed European regulatory tests — with Renault often cited by campaigners as among the worst offenders.

German green group DUH said in November that Renault’s popular Espace minivan had released NOx emissions 25 times over EU limits during a Swiss study using driving styles that are more realistic than the EU test cycle.

Renault has confirmed it was recalling more than 15,000 diesel versions of its Captur mini-SUV to correct an engine processor fault that disabled its exhaust after-treatment system, causing NOx levels to soar.