The High Court in London released a preliminary ruling largely in favor of five major car manufacturers implicated in the "dieselgate" emissions scandal. Lady Justice Cockerill dismissed the more serious claims of fraudulent misrepresentation against Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault, and Stellantis (Peugeot and Citroën). This decision significantly reduces the potential financial penalty for the carmakers, as fraudulent misrepresentation carries a longer limitation period and could have led to higher damages. The court found insufficient evidence that the manufacturers knew their vehicles contained "defeat devices" at the time of sale.
Despite this partial victory for the carmakers, the lawsuit is not entirely dismissed. The judge ruled that the case can proceed on the grounds of breach of contract for a limited number of vehicle models. This means that while claims of intentional deception are curtailed, some motorists can still seek compensation if their vehicles did not comply with emissions regulations as implied by their purchase contracts. The current proceedings are a part of a larger class action representing approximately 1.6 million motorists in the UK.
Previous estimates suggested the total value of claims could reach an estimated $6 billion, making it one of the largest consumer class actions in English legal history. However, the dismissal of fraudulent misrepresentation claims will likely reduce this potential payout. Volkswagen, in a separate but related case, previously settled with UK motorists for $193 million and has paid over $32 billion globally in penalties related to its own emissions scandal. The outcome of this preliminary ruling could influence future legal strategies for both claimants and manufacturers in the ongoing "dieselgate" saga.
