WASHINGTON — The U.S. unit of Stellantis can pay $5.6 million to resolve a California investigation into violations of air high quality rules, the state stated on Thursday.

The California Air Assets Board (CARB) stated the 30,600 autos concerned within the settlement embody 2012-2018 mannequin yr Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango autos that had been outfitted with 5.7L gasoline engines and didn’t adjust to certification emission requirements.

The automaker can pay a $2.8 million civil penalty and $2.8 million to carry extra electrical faculty buses to colleges within the South Coast Air Basin. CARB stated Stellantis cooperated with the investigation into the emissions subject found throughout state testing.

“This case is an ideal instance of why CARB’s compliance testing is so essential in defending the state’s air high quality and public well being,” stated CARB Government Officer Steven Cliff.

Stellantis stated Thursday: “Whereas we settle for duty, this doesn’t mirror our technique for the longer term,” noting that it was working to introduce 25 U.S. EVs by 2030.

In a separate emissions probe, the subsidiary in June pleaded responsible to legal conspiracy and agreed to pay about $300 million in a plea settlement to resolve a U.S. Justice Division diesel emissions fraud investigation.

The Justice Division stated the Stellantis unit put in misleading software program options to keep away from regulatory scrutiny and fraudulently assist the diesel autos meet required emissions requirements.

Stellantis beforehand paid a $311 million civil penalty and paid over $183 million in compensation to greater than 63,000 folks as a part of a class-action diesel lawsuit.

That is the automaker’s second settlement with California previously 4 years.

In 2019, CARB settled with the corporate, then referred to as Fiat Chrysler Vehicles, or FCA, over allegations it used “defeat machine software program” to bypass emissions testing on greater than 100,000 diesel autos nationwide.

California obtained greater than $78 million of the $500 million settlement.

FCA merged with French Peugeot automobile maker PSA in 2021 to type Stellantis.