Mercedes-Benz Faces Lawsuit Over Diesel Emissions Claims

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After everything that has gone on with Volkswagen and their diesel emissions issues, Mercedes-Benz now faces a class action lawsuit claiming that they also cheated U.S. emissions regulations with their older BlueTec diesel models. VW has already admitted to using "defeat devices" in over 480,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. to beat emission standards.

Mercedes has billed the BlueTec as "the world's cleanest, most advanced diesel."

The suit against Mercedes was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and cites tests performed by the Dutch government which found that BlueTEC diesels put out "dangerous levels" of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The suit claims that, in conditions under 50 degrees Fahrenheit, these cars put out more than 65 times more smog-causing NOx than the EPA allows. In addition, it alleges that, on average, BlueTEC diesels output 19 times the U.S. standard.

The complaint was filed by Seattle law firm Hagens Berman. The group has also pursued legal action against VW. But the big difference in this case is that the suit is based on tests done by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure, not on U.S. law or EPA tests. European emission laws are based on lab tests, not real-world conditions, so the cars routinely produce more emissions on the road without technically breaking the law. It is also unclear if these Dutch tests are representative of Mercedes-Benz's that have been sold in the U.S. 

The EPA has said that "testing of previously certified light duty diesel vehicles is ongoing" and would not comment on the case.

 

 

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