THE US Government will drag Fiat Chrysler Automobiles before its courts to answer claims the car maker cheated on emissions tests for vehicles sold in North America.

The Department of Justice yesterday revealed it will ask the US-Italian carmaker to officially defend claims it had built software into the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine powering more than 100,000 vehicles – its Dodge Ram pick-up truck and the Jeep Grand Cherokee – that helped the vehicles to pass strict emissions tests.The latest step in the crackdown on emissions cheats comes after German premium carmaker Volkswagen earlier this year agreed to pay up to $US25 billion to settle its Dieselgate emissions cheat scandal with US authorities.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee