She said the tests needed to be based on real driving conditions and not those of special testing facilities. It has been suggested that the emission readings are much lower in laboratory-style conditions.
"Renault has committed to recalling a certain number of vehicles, more than 15,000 vehicles, to check them and adjust them correctly so the filtration system works even when it is very hot or when it is below 17 degrees, because that's when the filtration system no longer worked," Ms Royal said.
"We are working on a technical plan which should allow us to cut emissions," Renault sales director Thierry Koskas said during a presentation on the group's 2015 sales performance.
When asked how the test results differed from those conducted under real conditions, he said: "Renault did not cheat... We are not using any software or other methods.