Carmakers broadly win first round in huge UK lawsuits over diesel emissions
Overview of the UK Diesel Emissions Lawsuits
LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - Some of the world's biggest carmakers on Friday largely won the first stage of a major legal battle over claims that their diesel vehicles were fitted with unlawful "defeat devices" to curtail emissions controls.
Judge's Ruling and Key Findings
In a summary of her judgment, Judge Sara Cockerill said she had "rejected most of the principal allegations advanced against the manufacturers whose vehicles were examined at trial".
Definition of Defeat Devices
She said that a defeat device under emissions regulation only covered "devices which operate with the intentional and/or impermissible purpose of causing the (emissions control system) to operate differently when it senses the test cycle".
Vehicles and Manufacturers Involved
The case centred on 20 sample vehicles made by Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault and the Stellantis-owned brands Peugeot and Citroen.
Adverse Findings
Cockerill did make some adverse findings, including over a coolant temperature device used in some Mercedes cars that was removed in a December 2015 update.
However, she said the device did not reduce the effectiveness of the emissions control system.
Reactions from Carmakers and Claimants
Mercedes-Benz Response
A Mercedes-Benz spokesperson welcomed the ruling, saying the court had found "very largely in favour" of the company. The automaker said it disagreed with the adverse finding and was considering its options, including a possible appeal.
Claimants' Response
Lawyers representing the claimants said they were considering a possible appeal against Friday's ruling, which they said "adopted a significantly narrower interpretation of the law than that applied elsewhere in Europe".
Implications and Next Steps
Scope of the Lawsuits
The trial, which began in October, was the most significant hearing to date in 13 groups of lawsuits brought by around 1.6 million claimants.
Friday's ruling concerned test cases against five manufacturers but will also apply to roughly 800,000 similar claims involving other carmakers.
Upcoming Trials
A further trial is due to begin in October to determine the consequences of any breaches of emissions rules and whether any claimants are entitled to damages.
Background: Volkswagen "Dieselgate" Scandal
The litigation comes more than a decade after Volkswagen's "Dieselgate" scandal, which cost the German automaker billions of euros.
Comparison with Volkswagen Case
Rival manufacturers have argued that the case is fundamentally different from Volkswagen's emissions-cheating scandal and that emissions control systems may legitimately operate differently under certain conditions.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin. Editing by William James and Mark Potter)
