Carmakers deliberately chose to cheat environmental regulations for customer convenience. This claim opened a massive trial in London’s High Court on Monday. Lawyers allege this deliberate emissions cheating involved secret software devices. These devices could sense when cars underwent official emissions testing. They then reduced harmful nitrogen oxide outputs to legal limits. This action duped regulators and millions of car buyers completely. On real roads however the cars polluted much more heavily.
Therefore, the group action represents an enormous 1.6 million UK car owners. Five major car manufacturers are the initial lead defendants. These companies include Mercedes Ford Renault Nissan and Peugeot. The claimants seek estimated damages exceeding six billion pounds. A verdict against these five will also bind several other manufacturers. This includes brands like Jaguar Land Rover Volkswagen and BMW.
Moreover, the claimants’ lawyer presented a very serious accusation. He said the industry made a conscious decision to prioritize sales. Customer convenience helped them sell many more diesel cars. Reducing deadly pollutants was apparently a lower priority. This deliberate emissions cheating had severe public health consequences. A research report cited 124,000 premature deaths in Europe. These deaths were linked to the excess nitrogen oxide emissions.
Lawyers stated carmakers could have easily reduced pollution. Larger AdBlue tanks would have cut emissions significantly. However this required more frequent refills by customers. The industry allegedly decided against this simple solution. They supposedly feared inconveniencing their potential car buyers. This deliberate emissions cheating was therefore a calculated choice.
The defendants strongly deny all these allegations completely. Renault’s lawyers called the case riddled with errors. Ford’s legal team labeled the claim scientifically illiterate. Mercedes argued the case ignores diesel engineering complexity. Nissan said the legal premise is completely untenable.
The trial is expected to last for approximately three months. A judgment is not expected until next summer. This case represents the largest group action in English legal history. It will ultimately decide a major question of corporate accountability. The outcome will also deliver a form of environmental justice.
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