US judge passes most applications against Daimler

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal judge has allowed most of the lawsuits filed by Daimler AG in 2016 as part of a lawsuit filed by vehicle owners, claiming that the German automaker's Mercedes vehicles were using Illegal software to emit excess emissions.

In a ruling on Friday evening, Judge Jose Linares, of the US District Court of New Jersey, also said that lawsuits against car supplier Robert Bosch GmbH could be pursued, rejecting the offer of German companies to end to prosecution.

In the United States, diesel vehicles are increasingly being monitored since Volkswagen AG admitted, in September 2015, the installation of secret software on 580,000 US vehicles that allowed them to emit an excess of emissions.

Steve Berman, one of the lawyers representing US diesel-powered Mercedes owners, said: "Like Volkswagen, Mercedes has been trying to scam consumers by laundering its range of diesel cars. With the help of clever marketing and Bosch's defeat device, the duo set out to make profits with unknown buyers. "

Andrea Berg, spokesman for Daimler, said on Monday: "These claims are unfounded, and we are pleased that the court has acknowledged the shortcomings of some of the plaintiffs' claims." We intend to continue to defend ourselves vigorously. against the remaining claims. "

Bosch, which manufactures software for Daimler, VW and other diesel emission systems from automakers, declined to comment on Monday.

The Ministry of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board and German prosecutors in Stuttgart are investigating Daimler for alleged excess emissions in Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles.

Daimler acknowledged being confronted with investigations in Germany and the United States. In October, Daimler announced operating profit down more than 10%, accusing "government procedures and measures in various regions" related to diesel emissions.

In 2017, Daimler gave up seeking US approval for the sale of new light-duty Mercedes-Benz diesel models in the United States.

VW has pleaded guilty to the emissions scandal and has agreed to spend more than $ 25 billion in the United States on claims by homeowners, environmental regulators, states and dealers.

Last month, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV accepted a settlement worth approximately $ 800 million to resolve the dispute that the Department of Justice and California had used illegal software producing fake diesel test results, but still subject to criminal investigation.

Last month, Bosch agreed to pay nearly $ 131 million to settle the claims of Fiat Chrysler diesel engine owners and resolve all the investigations of 47 US Attorneys General over its involvement in diesel vehicles, including Volkswagen's emissions fraud.