BERLIN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Daimler AG's share price on the DAX stock exchange fell by two percent to 71.06 euros (88.01 U.S. dollars) on Monday following a report that the German luxury carmaker was being targeted by U.S. authorities in the ongoing "dieselgate" scandal.
Despite upbeat overall trading, other automotive firms listed in Frankfurt, including BMW (minus 0.5 percent), also suffered slight losses.
On Sunday, the German newspaper Bild cited confidential information compiled in a joint investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and environmental agencies which suggested that Daimler played a greater role in the diesel emission-cheating scandal than previously acknowledged.
According to the documents, investigators discovered several software functions in Daimler's diesel fleet which were allegedly illegally-installed to falsify readings of nitrogen oxide emissions.
Bild wrote that in the case of Mercedes-Benz "Vito" vans, the actual nitrogen oxide levels were ten times as high during everyday use as those recorded in official test settings.
The Stuttgart-based manufacturer said it was unable to comment on the ongoing investigation as it had guaranteed the U.S. Department of Justice "full confidentiality".
Daimler's chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche has repeatedly insisted that unlike its rival Volkswagen, his firm was not guilty of any "cheating".
"We have been cooperating fully for more than two years and are ensuring complete transparency," a statement by Daimler read. A company spokesperson further noted that U.S. authorities had already been aware of the information published.
