Widnes men to sue Mercedes over ‘dieselgate scandal’

This alleges that the vehicle manufacturer used defeat devices to avoid complying with the law regarding diesel car emissions.

Residents Robert Moss and Mark Stanton are working with national consumer rights law firm Slater and Gordon to bring the claim.

The claim is expected to become a group action litigation, with tens of thousands of affected consumers working together to hold Mercedes to account.

Slater and Gordon currently represents around 14,000 claimants across the country and is also joint lead solicitors in the Volkswagen dieselgate claim.

The claim is fully funded by Asertis – an independent litigation funder allowing people to seek compensation from Mercedes without risking their own money.

Following the ‘emissions scandal’, Mercedes recalled vehicles in order to provide them with a software update known as a ‘fix’ to make the vehicles comply with emissions regulations.

In a survey of Slater and Gordon’s claimants, 25 per cent of those who have had the fix said they had experienced reliability issues since it was applied.

In addition, 31.8 per cent of those who have had the fix said they had lost confidence in their car’s reliability, while 15 per cent believed their car had since become less safe.

Moreover, 81 per cent did not think that Mercedes was transparent with them about potential issues that may arise following the fix.

Robert said: “I was shocked to learn of Mercedes’ use of defeat devices in their diesel cars, and I am keen that all of us who have been let down by Mercedes should receive the compensation we are due.

“It was especially disappointing to see that Mercedes colluded with other car manufacturers to suppress technology that could have reduced the vehicles’ emissions and protected the environment.”

Gareth Pope, the lawyer in charge of the claim at Slater and Gordon, commented: “Our clients will allege that Mercedes knowingly installed unlawful defeat devices in hundreds of thousands of UK vehicles that allowed them to pass emissions tests designed to protect human health and the environment while still being highly polluting on the road.

“As a result, our clients will allege that they have been deceived into purchasing these polluting vehicles for more than they were worth.

“As part of the deception, our clients will also allege that Mercedes participated in a cartel with other German manufacturers, including Volkswagen, to suppress the development and implementation of cleaner emissions technology in order to maximise their profits.”

In response, a Mercedes spokesman said: “We consider the claims made against our company to be unfounded and will defend ourselves with the necessary legal means. 

“The courts will clarify the correct interpretation of relevant legal standards in this complex technical environment.

“Our vehicles continue to have valid registration from the relevant authorities.

“Our track record in Germany demonstrates our strong legal position. We see essential points of our legal opinion confirmed by the numerous rulings in the German regional and higher regional courts.

“The decisions are almost unanimously in our favour (in about 95 per cent of the cases).

“The German Higher Regional Courts alone have issued more than 800 rulings in our favour and only two against the company.”

Slater and Gordon says affected diesel Mercedes vehicles were made between 2008 and 2018, and drivers can join the claim whether they purchased their affected vehicle new or second hand.

It adds that it is estimated that 600,000 Mercedes vehicles in the UK may have been affected, with a potential one million individuals able to make a claim. The value of each claim may reach £10,000.

Residents can check if a vehicle they own, or have owned in the past, was impacted by the scandal and if they are eligible to join the claim via bit.ly/3ErtmzD