UK Court Rules in Favor of Major Carmakers in Dieselgate Case

Jul 10, 2026

71 min

Jul 10, 2026 18:30

Major carmakers escape most dieselgate claims in UK trial

## High Court Decision

The High Court in London has largely sided with five major car manufacturers—Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot-Citroen, Renault, and Nissan—in a case concerning the installation of devices in diesel vehicles allegedly designed to cheat emissions tests. Justice Sara Cockerill stated that most of the main allegations against these companies were dismissed.

## Background

The dieselgate scandal began in 2015 when Volkswagen admitted to using software to manipulate emissions tests. This revelation led to widespread legal actions against various automakers globally. Volkswagen has since paid over €32 billion in penalties, primarily in the U.S.

## Upcoming Trial

Despite the favorable ruling, the carmakers will face another trial in October to address specific strategies found problematic, such as a coolant device in Mercedes cars. The initial claims involved 1.6 million motorists against 14 carmakers, including BMW and Toyota.

## Reactions

Mercedes expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, noting that only one of their vehicles was found non-compliant, which has been corrected. Ford also welcomed the ruling, affirming they did not use illegal devices. Meanwhile, campaigners like Mums for Lungs expressed disappointment, highlighting ongoing emissions issues in the UK.

## Legal Implications

The ruling has significant implications, as it suggests the UK is currently the only major European market where such devices can be used legally. Claimants are considering an appeal, as the court found that simply proving reduced emissions control effectiveness was insufficient for their case.

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