UK High Court Rejects Most 1.6 Million Dieselgate Claims, but Flags Mercedes and Peugeot-Citroën Cars
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 10
UK High Court Rejects Most 1.6 Million Dieselgate Claims, but Flags Mercedes and Peugeot-Citroën Cars
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 10
Summary
Lady Justice Cockerill ruled most emissions-control strategies challenged by 1.6 million UK diesel owners were not illegal defeat devices, sharply limiting the largest group action trial in English legal history.
The judgment said claimants had to prove an intent to rig emissions tests, not just show NOx controls worked less effectively in normal driving than under laboratory conditions.
Some Mercedes and Peugeot-Citroën technologies could still qualify as defeat devices, prompting both manufacturers to consider appeals even as they welcomed a ruling that largely favored carmakers.
Claimants' lawyers are also weighing an appeal, arguing the court adopted a narrower definition than much of Europe and created a split between Great Britain and EU dieselgate case law.
The ruling is the first UK verdict tied to the scandal exposed by Volkswagen more than a decade ago and binds other manufacturers beyond the 20 vehicles tested from five brands.