GM faces lawsuit over alleged emissions cheating in US Chevrolet Cruze diesels
A class-action suit accuses General Motors of using illegal emissions software in US-market Chevrolet Cruze diesels, echoing claims that rocked Volkswagen.
General Motors is facing a class-action lawsuit in the United States alleging that its diesel-powered Chevrolet Cruze models were fitted with an illegal emissions defeat device. The suit, filed by the law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, claims GM used software to bypass emissions controls during testing, allowing the Cruze to emit pollutants above legal limits in real-world driving.
The complaint draws direct comparisons to the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, which led to global recalls and billions in penalties for the German manufacturer. Plaintiffs are seeking up to $2,000 in compensation per affected customer, along with punitive damages. The suit alleges that GM’s emissions software enabled the Cruze diesel to pass US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) laboratory tests while exceeding nitrogen oxide (NOx) limits in normal use.
GM response and regulatory context
GM has rejected the allegations, stating it believes the Chevrolet Cruze turbo diesel complies with all relevant US emissions regulations. The company described the lawsuit as baseless and said it would defend itself vigorously. When launching the Cruze diesel in the US, GM claimed the engine had been modified from its European version to meet stricter American emissions standards.
The US Cruze diesel’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine was introduced after the model’s success in Europe, but sales remained modest, and the segment shrank further following Volkswagen’s high-profile scandal. The timing of the lawsuit reflects heightened scrutiny of diesel technology in the US, with regulators and consumer groups closely monitoring compliance.
Other GM diesel scrutiny
This is not the first time GM’s diesel technology has come under investigation. German authorities previously opened an inquiry into Opel, GM’s European subsidiary at the time, following reports from Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) and the media about possible illegal emissions software in the Zafira 1.6-litre diesel. The Fiat 500X 2.0-litre diesel, which shared some GM powertrain technology, was also named in the reports. GM has consistently denied any wrongdoing in these cases.
