Fiat Chrysler paid U.S. $77 million in fuel economy penalties in 2018

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV told Reuters on Thursday it paid $77 million (£59 million) in U.S. civil penalties late last year for failing to meet 2016 model year fuel economy requirements.

The Italian-American automaker has been lobbying the Trump administration to revise fuel economy requirements and last year regulators proposed freezing requirements at 2020 model year levels through 2026. Shane Karr, head of external affairs for Fiat Chrysler in North America, said in a statement the fuel economy programme should be reformed rather than "requiring companies to make large compliance payments because assumptions made in 2011 turned out to be wrong."

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)