Exclusive:
It comes a decade on from ‘dieselgate’ – the 2015 scandal Volkswagen admitted as many as 11 million of their cars had ‘defeat’ software to manipulate the tests
The UK’s largest ever class action court case is due before the High Court, hoping to reveal how many diesel cars have been using illegal devices to cheat emissions tests.
It comes a decade on from ‘dieselgate’ – the 2015 scandal Volkswagen admitted as many as 11 million of their cars had ‘defeat’ software to manipulate the tests.
New analysis shows there are still 9.8 million diesel cars still on the road in total.
These models emit 70,300 tonnes of excess Nitric Oxide and Nitrogen Dioxide (NOx) above legal limits every year, which represents almost 40% (38.9%) of Britain’s NOx emissions from road transport.
In November, the Government launched an investigation into cars made by as many as 13 manufacturers, which could lead to dozens of models being recalled.
MPs, campaign group Mums for Lungs and more than 50 organisations have called for court documents to be published revealing how many cars have been using ‘defeat’ devices.
A hearing to determine whether to make the documents public will take place next week.
That will be followed by the first trial, to cover cars made by Mercedes, Ford, Nissan/Renault and Peugeot/Citron in October.
In total, law firm Pogust Goodhead is pursuing claims against thirteen major vehicle manufacturers, which, in addition to the above, include Volkswagen, Porsche, BMW, Vauxhall, Fiat Chrysler, Suzuki, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Hyundai-Kia and Mazda.
Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs said: “Vehicle exhaust emissions are the largest single contributor to NOx, a gas that inflames lungs.
“Air pollution is shortening the lives of up to 43,000 people a year in the UK and many hundreds of thousands more are sick with illnesses such as asthma, lung and cardiac conditions, dementia or cancer.”
She added: “This looks like a sequel to the original Dieselgate, in which car manufacturers across the world were found to have installed defeat devices in their cars, to hide that these were emitting illegal levels of toxic gases. These cars are still on our roads polluting our towns and cities and making our children sick.
“We deserve to understand what is going on now, we need these documents to be made publicly available due to the significant public interest in this matter.”