If the Dieselgate scandal seems far off today, some cases are still pending and customers probably have no intention of giving up.
If in general Volkswagen is the manufacturer most affected in this case, others have also been blamed, to a lesser extent of course, and in particular Mercedes.
An endless romance?
The case in Germany is still ongoing and the court handed down its verdict this week in part vindicating Mercedes customers who demanded compensation for counterfeit diesel engines. The Stuttgart giants have already announced their intention to file an appeal.
The Stuttgart court concluded that Mercedes equipped some of its vehicles “unauthorized defeat devices”, thereby limiting the process of cleaning diesel exhaust gases. The ruling opens the way for individual claims for compensation from customers who feel they have been wronged.
However, the manufacturer quickly expressed its disagreement with the court’s decision, declaring its intention to appeal the court’s decision.
The class action, filed in 2021 by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) and joined by around 2,800 customers, seeks compensation for damages caused by Mercedes-Benz’s illegal actions.
Although the court rejected part of the complaint, particularly regarding the intentional nature of the deception and the specific patterns involved, the VZBV welcomed the decision as progress. In a press release, the consumer association highlighted the importance of the decision for future damages claims.
Mercedes did not intend to act illegally
In response to the court’s decision, Mercedes reaffirmed its position by maintaining it interpretation of the complex regulations in relation to the incriminating devices was justified at the time and that it did not intend to act unlawfully.
Despite the smaller scale of the Mercedes case compared to Volkswagen, Dieselgate continues to haunt the auto industry because even though manufacturers have generally all moved on, many customers are still seeking compensation and feel wronged in the case.
This will be decided by the courts, and the court proceedings promise to be long.
Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.