Lawyers warn that the case could eventually involve up to 1.8 million UK drivers across 14 brands, potentially making it the largest consumer class action in British legal history.
A decade after Volkswagen’s emissions scandal shook the global auto industry, five of the world’s largest carmakers—Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Renault, Nissan, and Peugeot/Citroën—are now facing a landmark High Court trial in London that could permanently alter drivers’ perception of “clean diesel.”
The long-running “dieselgate” class action, which opened this week, brings together around 850,000 motorists who claim they were misled about the environmental performance of their vehicles.
Lawyers say the case could eventually expand to include as many as 1.8 million UK drivers across 14 brands, potentially making it the largest consumer class action in British history.
At the heart of the case are allegations that the manufacturers installed “defeat devices”—software designed to detect when a vehicle was undergoing official emissions testing and temporarily reduce pollution output to meet EU standards.
Outside testing conditions, however, the vehicles allegedly reverted to normal performance, emitting nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter far above legal limits.
All five companies have denied wrongdoing. Mercedes-Benz said its systems were “legally and technically justified,” while Renault and Stellantis insisted their vehicles complied with all European emissions regulations when sold.
Ford dismissed the lawsuit as “without merit,” and Nissan reiterated its “commitment to regulatory compliance in every market.”
The manufacturers are expected to argue that the software in question was intended to protect engines from damage rather than manipulate test results—a technical distinction that could prove crucial to the case’s outcome.
The High Court proceedings, expected to run for three months, will focus on a small sample of diesel vehicles produced by the five companies.
A judgment is not expected until mid-2026.
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More than 10,000 supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rallied in Belgrade on Wednesday to show their backing for the populist leader’s policies, following a year of anti-government demonstrations.
Japan has dispatched troops to its remote northern regions to help capture bears after local authorities reported that communities were struggling with a surge in attacks.
Severe flooding in southwest Wales has prompted a major incident, with emergency crews rescuing dozens of people from homes, vehicles and a care facility in Carmarthenshire.
The Champions League match between Qarabağ FK and Chelsea has finished 2–2 at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.
The Champions League match between Qarabağ FK and Chelsea has finished 2–2 at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku.
Brussels airport, Belgium's busiest, reopened on Wednesday morning after drone sightings during the previous night had resulted in it being temporarily closed, although some flights remained disrupted, its website said.
Israel’s top military legal officer Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, who resigned last week, has been arrested over the leak of a video showing soldiers brutally assaulting a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman military prison.
Russia remains in constant contact with Venezuela over tensions in the Caribbean, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to boost mutual investment and deepen economic cooperation with Russia, as Moscow faces growing Western sanctions and trade pressure.
Dutch smartphone maker Fairphone is entering the U.S. market, betting on growing demand for repairable and sustainable devices as right-to-repair legislation gains traction, according to Reuters.
Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday that China's economy will exceed 170 trillion yuan ($23.87 trillion) by 2030, presenting a big market opportunity for the world as trade restrictions rise globally.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday said that last week's Hurricane Melissa, the strongest-ever storm to hit its shores, caused damage to homes and key infrastructure roughly equivalent to 28% to 32% of last year's gross domestic product.
French judicial authorities announced on Tuesday that they had launched an investigation into the Chinese social media platform TikTok, focusing on the potential dangers of its algorithms pushing young people towards suicide.
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, is entering the U.S. dollar and euro debt markets with a multi-tranche senior unsecured notes issue.
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