BERLIN. Mercedes-Benz Group is liable to owners of some of its diesel cars equipped with an emissions manipulation device, a German court has ruled in a consumer class action lawsuit. Bloomberg reports it. The ruling of the Stuttgart Court of Appeal concerns the Mercedes Glc and Glk models in a lawsuit brought three years ago by the consumer group “Vzbv” which was joined by 2,500 plaintiffs. The association alleges that the automaker manipulated diesel engines to violate emissions regulations. Motorists will not receive compensation directly, but must now sue individually to collect the money from the manufacturer.
Mercedes has said it will appeal against the ruling arguing that the company and its employees acted correctly. The European Union has issued emissions standards that cars must meet. The old standard, called Euro 5, was introduced in 2009. The new Euro 6 applies to cars produced since 2014. The judges accepted the case for models compliant with Euro 6 emission standards, but rejected the case for vehicles that comply with Euro 5. The lawsuit essentially replicates Vzbv’s lawsuit against Volkswagen over the diesel emissions scandalconcluded with an 830 million euro deal in 2020.