Some of the largest automobile manufacturers worldwide are facing allegations of prioritizing sales over environmental concerns in the ongoing “dieselgate” controversy. The High Court heard claims that these companies installed devices in vehicles to manipulate emissions during testing, ensuring compliance with regulations. However, the vehicles were allegedly emitting significantly higher levels of pollutants during regular use.
This trial, anticipated to span three months, marks the largest legal action of its kind in English history, with a ruling not expected until the following summer. The claims, valued at approximately £6 billion, are brought by lawyers representing 1.6 million individuals accusing the manufacturers of deceptive practices related to diesel emissions tests.
Various diesel vehicle owners, including those of Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault, and Peugeot and Citroen under Stellantis, contend that the companies utilized unauthorized “defeat devices.” In contrast, the manufacturers deny these allegations, asserting that the claims lack merit and differ from the 2015 scandal involving Volkswagen. The trial will concentrate on a subset of diesel vehicles from the five manufacturers, setting a precedent for similar claims against other industry players.
The trial’s commencement saw Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, an advocate whose daughter tragically passed away from an asthma attack linked to pollution, expressing hope for justice outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Her daughter, Ella, became the first individual in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death in a landmark 2020 coroner’s case.
Additionally, a Mercedes SUV owner, Adam Kamenetzky, shared his disappointment, alleging that the vehicle’s emissions data was misrepresented, leading him to believe it was environmentally friendly. The trial’s opening statements highlighted the industry’s alleged conscious choice to prioritize sales over environmental compliance, with lawyers emphasizing the detrimental impact of nitrogen oxides emissions on public health.
The trial’s central focus is on harmful nitrogen oxides emissions and whether prohibited defeat devices were utilized in the sample vehicles. While claimants argue that these devices were present across the automotive sector, Renault’s representation maintains that their vehicles do not contain such devices. The trial, presided over by Lady Justice Cockerill, is set to conclude in December, with final legal deliberations scheduled for March 2026.
Martyn Day, a lawyer representing the claimants, emphasized the severity of the allegations, suggesting a significant breach of corporate trust if proven true. This legal battle in the High Court echoes a previous ruling against VW in 2020 concerning defeat devices, which VW settled without admitting liability in 2022.