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Prosecutors raid BMW headquarters in emissions investigation

Two BMW Group sites have been raided by German prosecutors in an investigation into the suspected use of emissions cheating devices, but the company denies any wrongdoing

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(PA)

German prosecutors have raided two BMW Group sites in an investigation into suspected emissions cheating by the firm.

The company’s main headquarters in Munich and its engine plant in Steyr, Austria, were searched yesterday by public prosecutors, as it is suspected that around 11,400 diesel BMW vehicles have been fitted with devices to cheat emissions regulations.

Prosecutors said: “There is the initial suspicion that BMW has used a test bench-related defeat device.”

In a statement, the firm said: “In the course of internal testing, the BMW Group realised that a correctly developed software module had been allocated in error to models for which it was not suited.

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(BMW)

It also revealed that an internal investigation was taking place. “The company had already started an internal investigation and will obviously forward all information gathered so far to the authorities,” it said. “The BMW Group continues to assume that the situation was caused by an incorrect allocation of the software and does not represent a deliberate attempt to manipulate exhaust emissions.”

Cheat devices work by identifying when the tests are taking place and use various methods to control the pollution emitted during them.

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