Published: April 2019

Is Mercedes-Benz cheating us out of clean air?

Mercedes-Benz stands accused of installing cheat devices into its diesel vehicles to evade U.S. emissions laws at the expense of consumers and the environment. Consumer Action joined advocates in urging Congress to help hold Mercedes accountable.

Leading consumer and environmental groups sent letters to U.S. House Energy & Commerce and Senate Commerce Committees’ leadership, urging them to inquire about the status of pending Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency investigations into the diesel emissions systems of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz marketed its BlueTEC diesel vehicles as “the world's cleanest and most advanced diesel,” but has been accused of equipping them with cheat devices that results in dangerously high levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions far exceeding what is legal under U.S. federal and state regulations. The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Enviornmental Protection Agency have held Volkswagen and Fiat Chrysler accountable for similar allegations, but there has been no update on their investigation into Mercedes since it reportedly began in 2016.

Lead Organization

National Consumers League (NCL)

Other Organizations

Center for Auto Safety | Consumer Action | Consumer Federation of America | National Consumers League | Safe Climate Campaign | Sierra Club

More Information

Click here to read the letter in full.

For more information, please visit NCL.

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