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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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Türkiye aims to rank among the world’s top ten exporters of defence technology within the next two years.
As global attention centres on the conflict between Iran and the U.S., violence in Lebanon is intensifying, with Israeli strikes hitting residential areas, causing mounting civilian casualties and deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Uzbekistan and the U.S. are preparing to launch a joint investment platform by the end of the year, alongside the creation of a new bilateral business council aimed at strengthening economic cooperation.
International air travel remains severely disrupted despite the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran announced on Wednesday (8 April), leaving many passengers unable to reach their destinations after conflict-related cancellations at major Middle Eastern hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
The crew of Artemis II mission are entering a pivotal phase of their journey, as they prepare to swing around the Moon and head back towards Earth. Now on the fifth day of their 10-day mission, the four astronauts are already witnessing views no human has ever seen.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters that Iran could be taken out in one night, "and that night might be tomorrow night," warning Tehran it had to make a deal by Tuesday night or face wider bombing raids.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran's "whole civilisation" on Tuesday in a post on social media. Meanwhile, the UN failed to reach an agreemement on a resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after China and Russia used their vetoes.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
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Japan and Indonesia will deepen coordination on energy security, Tokyo said, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupts vital oil and gas flows to Asia.
China's three largest state-owned airlines have issued warnings regarding their financial outlook for the current year, acknowledging that the eruption of war involving Iran has driven jet fuel prices to unsustainable highs.
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