Wisconsin
Wisconsin to get part of $149M settlement with Mercedes over emissions
Wisconsin will get $630,854 as part of a $149.6 million settlement with Mercedes-Benz Group AG to resolve long-running claims the German automaker sold vehicles equipped with illegal emissions defeat devices.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement Dec. 21 the state had joined a coalition of 48 states and Puerto Rico that sued Mercedes. The coalition accused the company of using the devices to make vehicles appear to comply with emissions tests when they actually broke emissions standards while they were on the road.
“Deceiving the public about vehicle emissions is unfair to consumers and harmful to the environment,” Kaul said in the statement. “This settlement brings accountability and relief for consumers.”
Mercedes allegedly sold over 211,000 diesel vehicles from 2008-2016 that contained devices designed to skirt the emissions standards, Kaul said. The settlement extends to the estimated 39,565 U.S. vehicles that had not been repaired or permanently removed from the road by August 2023, he said.
The automaker said in a statement the deal puts an end to its legal issues in the United States over the Dieselgate emissions scandal that was uncovered at Volkswagen in September 2015.
Under the settlement, Mercedes must pay $149.6 million and provide $2,000 payments to eligible owners and lessees whose vehicles received required emissions repairs. Mercedes also agreed to adopt a series of actions to prevent future misconduct and comply with oversight requirements.
As part of the settlement, Mercedes will send an approved notice to eligible owners and lessees of eligible vehicles with information on steps they can take to receive the available relief.
The companies must also comply with reporting requirements, reform their practices, and refrain from any further unfair or deceptive marketing or sale of diesel vehicles, including misrepresentations regarding emissions and compliance, Kaul said.
Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.