After VW, Mercedes too under scanner for diesel emissions

After Volkswagen's infamous diesel gate scandal, in which the company used a cheat software to beat emission tests came to light, it appears that Mercedes too might have employed similar methods for its cars.

The German carmaker is now under investigation by the authorities in the United States and Germany. If found guilty, the company could face monetary penalties and could have to recall and fix all the cars already on the road.

According to a media report, investigators in the United States have uncovered software functions in the diesel variants of Mercedes cars that made the car pass emission tests and in one instance, even switch off the emission control systems after travelling 26 km. Investigators are also studying if the cheat software allowed the emissions cleaning system to regulate the emissions based on speed or acceleration.

Volkswagen admitted in 2015 that it had installed software in its car that would allow them to pollute up to 40 times more than the permissible limits in the United States and yet pass emission tests. Back in 2016, a lawsuit was filed against Mercedes in the United States. The complainant claimed that German carmaker's "Clean Diesel" vehicles emitted alarming levels of nitrogen oxide gases (NOx) in the real world in comparison to lab tests.

Source - Reuters