The German automaker Mercedes-Benz has received a significant boost as the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has closed its investigation into the company's diesel emissions scandal. Mercedes-Benz had been accused of deceiving consumers by falsely representing its BlueTEC vehicles as 'the world's cleanest and most advanced diesel.' The car manufacturer fully cooperated with the DOJ and conducted an internal investigation into possible manipulated emissions values in its diesel vehicles. With the closure of the probe, Mercedes-Benz is no longer facing charges and has gained legal certainty in connection with various diesel proceedings [9e5e0030].
This development comes as Mercedes-Benz continues to make strides in its commitment to sustainability and the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The company aims to achieve up to a 50% share of electric vehicles (xEVs) in its new vehicle fleet by the second half of the decade. It also plans to reduce production CO2 emissions by 80% by the end of the decade and run all fully owned production sites on 100% renewable energy by 2039. Mercedes-Benz is making progress in decarbonizing its supply chain by using CO2-reduced steel and aluminum, recycled materials, and renewable energy sources. The partnership with Nucor Corporation to source low-carbon steel for its vehicles is part of this sustainability strategy. The closure of the DOJ investigation further reinforces Mercedes-Benz's commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices [96cef34a].
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has closed its investigation into the diesel scandal against Mercedes-Benz. The car manufacturer has avoided criminal charges in the US. Mercedes-Benz had been accused of excessive emissions in around 250,000 diesel cars. The DOJ's decision comes after Mercedes-Benz paid American customers $1.9 billion in a settlement due to excessive emissions. The legal dispute continues in Germany. In September 2020, Mercedes-Benz settled a class action lawsuit in the US for 1.9 billion euros. The company also recalled cars for software updates. The legal dispute between consumer advocates and Mercedes-Benz is ongoing in Germany [c2b12f82] [9e5e0030].