The High Court has today confirmed Nissan Renault and Peugeot Citroën will join Mercedes and Ford as the first manufacturers to face trial in an English Court over alleged emissions cheating.
Dieselgate scandal
A number of vehicle manufacturers have been accused of diesel emissions fraud. Car manufacturers allegedly fitted so-called impermissible defeat devices in their vehicles to cheat emissions tests. By doing so, they eluded laws that are put in place to protect public health.
High Court ruling
The news came during five days of hearings designed to progress cases against a suite of diesel vehicle manufacturers. The cases involve more than a million claimants seeking damages.
The alleged cheating meant vehicles were pumping out far higher levels of toxic NOx pollution on the road than in laboratory tests. This contributed to the air pollution crisis in towns and cities across the country.
We represent the largest number of clients against the car companies and welcome the Court’s decision.
“This is a huge step towards securing justice for our clients. This is a public health and consumer scandal on an epic scale and this court action is shining a light on an area that manufacturers would rather remained unexamined.” – Pete Gallagher, Partner at Pogust Goodhead
The hearings at the High Court will continue all this week. The court is likely to grant permission for motorists to advance claims against several other manufacturers.
Car industry finally faces reckoning
The aggressive timetable of hearings set by a High Court judgment in December of last year means that, eight years after the so-called dieselgate scandal first broke, the industry is finally facing a reckoning over emissions cheating – one which has consequences beyond the showroom.
“Today’s news will also be of interest to investors in these companies, and the industry as a whole. Pogust Goodhead expects that the financial consequences for the manufacturers from these cases will be dire. It should make their shareholders nervous. We urge the manufacturers involved to do the right thing and reach swift settlements so that justice can be served without the need to take up any more of the Court’s time and resources”
“We are committed to working with all parties to ensure prompt and fair access to justice and compensation for our clients in these claims.“ - Pete Gallagher, Partner at Pogust Goodhead
Nissan Renault, Peugeot Citroën, Mercedes and Ford will all face a trial in October 2025. That trial will set a precedent for all other manufacturers, significantly streamlining all cases. There will also be a series of hearings between now and the October 2025 trial.
Check your eligibility
We are representing over one million drivers over claims against more than 12 car manufacturers in England and Scotland through the My Diesel Claim campaign. If you think you may have a claim, please visit: MyDieselClaim.com
