A German consumer group is suing Daimler for emissions

VZBV, Germany's largest consumer protection group, filed a lawsuit against Daimler on Wednesday to make it easier for Mercedes owners to obtain compensation for the diesel emissions scandal. The purpose of the action brought by VZBV in the Stuttgart District Court is to set a precedent and thus enable car owners of the Mercedes GLC and GLK to obtain compensation for software allegedly used to deceive emission tests. "Those affected will be assured that Daimler has deliberately installed illegal devices in several vehicle models," said VZBV chief Klaus Müller in a statement. "Despite the official call of vehicles (for service), Daimler AG still denies that it deliberately manipulated the emissions of its cars. The Stuttgart Regional Court should declare this. This will bring legal clarity to many affected consumers, "he said. Daimler stated that he considered the disputes concerning the emissions against him to be unfounded and would challenge the action against VZBV. According to VZBV estimates, a total of 254,000 Mercedes vehicles were called in Germany in connection with emissions. The so-called Musterfeststellungsklage - or Model Declaratory Action - covered almost 50,000 Mercedes GLC and GLK models. The summons was ordered in 2018 and the consumer VZBV decided to go to court before the potential legal liability of Daimler expired after the expiry of the three-year period. Daimler did not admit the inappropriate behavior in this case, which is part of a wider emission scandal called dieselgate. It has already cost rival Volkswagen more than € 32 billion in vehicle modifications, fines and litigation costs.