The shadow of “Dieselgate“ continues to hang over German brands, this time targeting Mercedes-Benz. The German technology giant has agreed to pay nearly $150 million to close another chapter in the scandal in the US. The agreement with US authorities, finalized just days ago, is the result of a large-scale investigation into manipulated data on harmful emissions from diesel units. Although the amount seems colossal, Stuttgart was quick to reassure investors that this will not shake the financial stability of the group.
According to information provided by Reuters, the direct hit to the company's accounts includes a fine of $120 million. Another nearly $30 million remains conditional – they will be “frozen“, with the amount melting away by $750 for each successfully repaired or bought back vehicle. At the center of the storm are about 40,000 vehicles whose exhaust gas purification systems need urgent software or technical intervention.
Owners of the affected diesel cars will not be left empty-handed either. Anyone who submits their vehicle for the necessary correction will receive compensation of $2,000. This is part of a broader commitment by Mercedes-Benz to restore trust and ensure that in the future such software “tricks” that conceal real pollution during tests will not see the light of day.
We recall that this is far from the first payment on the subject – five years ago the brand already paid out a staggering $2.2 billion in similar claims. Although the software allowed the cars to look “clean” in the laboratory, on the road they emitted many times more nitrogen oxides than allowed. Despite yet another financial penalty, interest in the models of the “premium German three” remains high, proving that fan loyalty is often stronger than environmental unrest.