EU threatens Mercedes with ban of cars over rigging pollution testing

Robert Besser
19 Sep 2023, 01:06 GMT+10

BERLIN, Germany: Mercedes-Benz has been warned that Germany could issue a recall for some autos found to have pollution-defeat devices installed into their software.
Defeat devices can be activated when an auto is undergoing emission tests.
According to media reports, the German transport authority KBA sent a letter to Mercedes-Benz detailing three devices found in cars to defeat environmental testing.

BERLIN, Germany: Mercedes-Benz has been warned that Germany could issue a recall for some autos found to have pollution-defeat devices installed into their software.

Defeat devices can be activated when an auto is undergoing emission tests. It can alter an auto's normal operating levels to ensure passing the test, only to return to operating levels that do not violate emission standards.

According to media reports, the German transport authority KBA sent a letter to Mercedes-Benz detailing three devices found in cars to defeat environmental testing.

The KBA warned Mercedes-Benz that they were obligated to remove such devices from their autos or have the autos banned from EU roads, based upon an earlier ruling by the European Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz has said it would comply with requests from the KBA and would update auto software to eliminate the defeat devices.

Mercedes-Benz said it will provide a list of autos with the defeat software to the KBA.

"We currently assume that software updates for vehicles that may be affected by a final decision on the functionalities ... have already been developed and are available in the field," the company added.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Broadcast Communications.

More Information

27 ℃

Mostly Cloudy in Seletar

Business

Section

Dubai real estate market on fire, billions of dollars in transactions each week

DUBAI, UAE - The bustling real estate market in Dubai has surged to unprecedented heights, reporting transactions valued at over ...

US business optimism about China at record low: Survey

SHANGHAI, China: A survey published this week by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Shanghai showed that political tensions ...

eVTOL maker Joby chooses Ohio for its flying taxis plant

DAYTON, Ohio: Under an agreement announced this week, Joby Aviation will produce state-of-the-art electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ...