MERCEDES-BENZ

Daimler can pay $ 16.4 billion in fines for emissions fraud

Mercedes-Benz is in a bad situation. This week, German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer has ruled that the Daimler group will have to pay fines totaling € 3.75 billion for fraud in emissions from its diesel engines. The information was published by Automotive News Europe, citing the German magazine Der Spiegel as a source.Scheuer would have questioned Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, about the number of Mercedes vehicles that would have to be repaired. An investigation uncovered an illegal program on one of the company's models. It is not known how this program would work.Der Spiegel claims that Scheuer was fined € 5,000 per car and believes that the scheme will affect some 750,000 Mercedes vehicles. If these cars are the same as a recall previously made, it may include models such as C-Class, G-Class and Vito van, all with 1.6 diesel engines.A spokesman for the Transport Ministry says Daimler and the minister agreed to talk about "very complex technical difficulties" about emissions. Scheuer and Zetsche also agreed on how they will solve the problem in affected vehicles. Prior to that, Daimler was ordered by KBA (the German government authority responsible for traffic) to call the Mercedes Vito with 1.6 diesel engine because of the emissions. The manufacturer has filed an appeal not to comply with the decision, saying that KBA has no authority to say that the software used is illegal.According to Der Spiegel, there is a considerable amount of evidence that certain Class C models would be affected, which would result in the recall of 80,000 units. A Daimler spokesman said the manufacturer's discussion with the Ministry of Transport was confidential and would not comment on the matter. KBA also declined to comment.

motor1.com