Car manufacturers face at least $7.6 billion worth of Dieselgate lawsuits in the UK, lawyers have said. By Reuters

sam tobin

LONDON (Reuters) – Some of the world’s biggest car manufacturers face 1.5 million lawsuits in Britain over alleged emissions test cheating that could cost them at least 6 billion pounds ($7.6 billion), plaintiffs’ lawyers said in London on Tuesday. It was told to the High Court.

The claim, brought by a diesel vehicle owner, follows a scandal that erupted in 2015 when Volkswagen (ETR:) admitted to using a “defeat device” to alter the emissions levels of its diesel vehicles during testing, prompting the automaker to continue to do so. Emphasize that you are being harmed.

Manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz (OTC:) and Ford (NYSE:) also allegedly misled customers about the compliance of certain vehicles with nitrogen oxide emissions standards, a claim the companies deny.

A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz, which has filed about 300,000 lawsuits, said in a statement: “We continue to believe that the lawsuits against Mercedes-Benz are without merit and we will vigorously defend against them using any legal means necessary.” “

A Ford spokesperson said: “We believe these claims have no merit and we are vigorously defending them. Our vehicles and engines meet all applicable emissions requirements.”

Volkswagen’s “Dieselgate” scandal cost the automaker more than 32 billion euros ($34 billion) in vehicle repairs, fines and legal fees.

The German group agreed to pay £193 million in 2022 to settle the claims of around 91,000 British drivers, without admitting any liability.

Lawyers representing a coalition of claimants said at a preliminary hearing that about 1.5 million claimants have sued 13 auto manufacturing groups.

Benjamin Williams, one of the claimants’ attorneys, said in court documents that the merits of the individual claims have not yet been determined.

But he said the total value of all the lawsuits would be “at least” £6 billion, “even if the value of the lawsuits is conservatively estimated at £4,000 each”.

The legal costs of a lawsuit would also be enormous. Claimants’ lawyers estimate they will have to spend almost £400 million by the third trial in 2026, putting the car manufacturer’s figure at £321 million.