Mercedes-Benz says US DOJ has closed investigation into diesel emissions scandal, Reuters

BERLIN (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department has closed its investigation into the Mercedes-Benz (OTC:) diesel emissions scandal and the automaker will no longer face charges, the company said on Saturday.

Renata Jungo Bruengger, Mercedes-Benz’s director of integrity, governance and sustainability, said in an emailed statement that Mercedes-Benz cooperated fully with the Justice Department.

“With the DOJ’s decision, we are taking another important step toward legal certainty with respect to the various diesel lawsuits,” she said, confirming previous reporting by German newspaper Handelsblatt on the DOJ decision.

In 2016, the U.S. DOJ asked Mercedes-Benz to conduct an internal investigation into possible emissions manipulation of diesel vehicles.

The automaker was accused of deceiving consumers by advertising its BlueTEC vehicles as “the world’s cleanest, most advanced diesel.”