US investigations closed
Mercedes-Benz can breathe a sigh of relief after the diesel scandal
April 27, 2024, 8:03 p.m
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If charges were filed over the emissions scandal, Mercedes-Benz would have faced billions in fines. Now the company can breathe a sigh of relief: the US judiciary is stopping its investigations – there will be no charges.
The US Department of Justice has closed its investigation against Mercedes-Benz. The company confirmed a corresponding report from the “Handelsblatt”. Accordingly, it is now clear that the US authorities “will not bring charges against Mercedes-Benz.” In 2016, this asked Daimler AG to review the certification and approval process with regard to exhaust emissions in the USA through an internal investigation.
“With the decision of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), we are taking another important step towards legal certainty in connection with various diesel procedures,” explained Mercedes-Benz Board Member for Integrity, Governance and Sustainability, Renata Jungo Brüngger. “We cooperated fully with the US Department of Justice and made the matter transparent at great expense,” she emphasized. This was a “very high priority” for her company from the start.
Jungo Brüngger told the “Handelsblatt” that 1.7 million documents were evaluated and more than 70 interviews were conducted with active and former employees as part of the process. 300,000 documents were submitted to the US Department of Justice. “The investigation was one of the most important proceedings in connection with diesel, and it put a lot of demands on us overall,” admitted the manager. If charged, Mercedes would have faced a heavy fine.
The allegations involve impermissible switch-off systems, which meant that emissions values in real operation were sometimes significantly higher than those stated based on test results. Several large manufacturers of diesel vehicles are affected by the allegations of manipulation. The legal process continues.