Major Car Firms Cleared of Emissions-Cheating Devices, Judge Rules

Vehicles from numerous major car manufacturers have been cleared of installing devices designed to cheat emissions tests, according to a ruling by a High Court judge. The decision comes after a class-action lawsuit brought by approximately 1.6 million motorists who claimed that diesel vehicles produced from 2009 onwards contained "prohibited defeat devices" (PDDs).

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The Court rejected most of the principal allegations advanced against the manufacturers whose vehicles were examined at trial.

The extensive trial, which spanned ten weeks, focused on 20 "sample vehicles" from five manufacturers: Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Nissan, Ford, and Peugeot and Citroen. The claimants alleged they were misled regarding the emissions performance of their vehicles.

In a detailed 369-page judgment, Lady Justice Cockerill stated that the court rejected most of the primary allegations against the manufacturers. She found that most strategies employed did not constitute PDDs. However, the judge identified one such device in Mercedes cars, which was removed in 2015, and another used in some Peugeot-Citroën vehicles.

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In the majority of instances, the Court found that the relevant strategy did not constitute a prohibited defeat device.

Mercedes-Benz welcomed the ruling but expressed disagreement with the finding concerning one of its sample vehicles, asserting that its emission control software functionalities are justifiable. The German automaker is actively considering its options, including a potential appeal. Peugeot-Citroën has not yet commented on the judgment.

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In our view, the emission control software functionalities are justifiable on both technical and legal grounds. We are actively considering all of our available options, including a potential appeal.

Lawyers representing some of the claimants noted that the judge indicated a different interpretation of "defeat device" could lead to a larger number of devices being established. One firm stated, "We are pleased that the court has ruled that Mercedes installed illegal defeat devices, just like Volkswagen. The fight is not over on this case, but the first domino has fallen."

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We are pleased that the court has ruled that Mercedes installed illegal defeat devices, just like Volkswagen. The fight is not over on this case, but the first domino has fallen. We are on the right path and will continue pushing to hold these carmakers to account.