Mercedes-Benz will pay $150 million in a multi-state settlement over emissions fraud, including cases in Hawaii. About 913 affected diesel vehicles were sold or registered in Hawaii, and the state will receive $263,356 from the settlement to support consumer protection efforts, according to Hawaii News Now.
Mercedes-Benz is facing a lawsuit for allegedly installing defeat devices in over 211,000 diesel vehicles from 2008 to 2016, which let the cars pass emissions tests while emitting illegal levels of nitrogen oxides in normal driving. Mana Moriarty, Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, said, “We must protect our environment for future generations and deliver certain consequences to those who break the law and pollute our air. Auto manufacturers have willfully been misleading the public about the level of harmful pollutants their vehicles were emitting,” as reported by Spectrum Local News. As part of the settlement, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and Mercedes-Benz Group AG will pay $120 million to the states, with an additional $29,673,750 possibly waived if a consumer relief program is completed. The program includes repairing or removing about 39,565 affected vehicles, reimbursing owners $2,000 per vehicle, providing extended warranties, and following strict reporting rules.
Mercedes-Benz will pay for software updates on vehicles to meet emissions standards after the cars were marketed as "environmentally-friendly" but did not meet regulations, as per Hawaii News Now. The company also agreed to change its marketing to prevent future false claims about emissions. Similar cases include Volkswagen, which paid $570 million in 2016, and Fiat Chrysler, which paid $72.5 million in 2019.
