Tag Archives: Dieselgate

Motorsport

Mercedes-Benz Accused of Using Defeat Devices, Faces Recalls in Germany

In the aftermath of the 2015 Dieselgate scandal, government agencies worldwide are continuing to closely examine automakers. Recently, leaked documents from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority revealed that Mercedes-Benz was under investigation for allegedly employing defeat devices to bypass the latest Euro 6 emissions standards.

The leaked letter dated July 7, 2023, disclosed the presence of three software-based defeat devices in the OM642 diesel engine used in the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec. Two of the devices altered engine operation based on specific temperature parameters. The agency warned Mercedes-Benz in the letter that it must rectify the issues or face operating restrictions and recalls.

The German environmental consumer protection group, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), published the leaked letter, which was provided by an anonymous whistleblower.

Mercedes-Benz, which is cooperating with the agency, informed Reuters that it believes it has already developed and implemented the necessary software updates to address the concerns. The increased scrutiny follows a ruling in July 2022 by the European Court of Justice, declaring software-based defeat devices as illegal. The agency originally set a compliance deadline of July 27, but Reuters reports that an extension was granted.

This is not the first time that Deutsche Umwelthilfe has scrutinized Mercedes-Benz. In November 2021, the organization released a public report accusing the company of employing eight defeat devices in its E-Class vehicles equipped with the Euro 6-compliant diesel engine, known as the OM642 power plant. DUH deemed the devices illegal, as they reduce the amount of AdBlue injected, which is necessary to neutralize harmful nitrogen oxides.

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Mercedes-Benz is not the only automaker still facing consequences from the Dieselgate scandal, even eight years after it first unfolded. Earlier this year, former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler was fined 1.1 million euros ($1.17 million) for his involvement in the scandal. Stadler admitted his guilt in order to avoid a prison sentence. In addition, auto components supplier Bosch paid $25 million in fines last year.

In 2020, Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, Daimler, had to pay $2.8 billion to settle claims against the company in the United States. The claims came from the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, the US Department of Justice, and a class-action lawsuit. More than half of the settlement amount went to various government agencies, while $700 million was allocated to resolving the lawsuit.

Motorsport

Mazda Commits to Selling Diesel Cars as Long as Customers Desire

The demand for diesel vehicles has been declining in recent years, particularly following the Dieselgate scandal. While diesel-powered cars and SUVs were once popular in Europe, last month electric vehicle sales surpassed deliveries of diesel models on the continent for the first time. However, Mazda has stated that it will continue to offer diesel technology as long as there is customer demand.

In a surprising move last year, the Japanese automaker introduced two new inline-six-cylinder engines, including a 3.3-liter turbocharged diesel. This diesel engine is available for the CX-60 in Europe, delivering up to 251 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in mild-hybrid form. These performance figures are impressive for a non-premium mid-size crossover in Europe. Mazda has confirmed its commitment to keeping the diesel option available if there is enough demand from customers.


Motorsport

Former Audi CEO Fined $1.2M, Gets Suspended Sentence For Dieselgate Role

Last month, former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler admitted his involvement in the Dieselgate scandal to avoid a prison sentence. Today, a Munich court issued a verdict in the case, imposing a fine of over one million euros on Stadler and giving him a suspended sentence of one year and nine months.

When Stadler agreed to confess in May, he also agreed to pay a fine that Prosecutors had proposed to be as high as €2 million. However, the judge ruled that he would only have to pay €1.1 million ($1.2 million at the current exchange rate). Authorities arrested Stadler in 2018, and he has been on trial since 2020 for his role in the scandal that first came to light in September 2015.

In September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that it had uncovered Volkswagen’s violation of the Clean Air Act. It was not until November 2016 that the agency implicated Audi. The German automaker used software to manipulate US emissions tests on its diesel vehicles.

Stadler is the first Volkswagen board member to be sentenced for his involvement in the scandal. However, other employees also received sentences this week. Former Audi executive Wolfgang Hatz and an engineer were also found guilty and given fines and suspended sentences. There are still ongoing cases against former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and other former VW managers.

The scandal has also been costly for the automaker. Volkswagen Group has been fined billions of dollars in the US and other countries where it sold its non-compliant vehicles. Recently, South Korea fined Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen for conspiring to cheat the country’s emissions standards.

Audi is making efforts to put the scandal behind it by focusing on electric vehicles despite lagging behind the competition. VW Group CEO Oliver Blume stated last week that he intends to accelerate the development of electric vehicles for the Audi brand, which has been plagued by “severe software problems”. Next year, the company will launch the Q6 E-Tron on a new platform and release its final combustion-powered car in 2025.