Pennsylvania's coffers are set to see a multimillion-dollar boost, with $6.6 million coming its way from a hefty settlement reached with Mercedes-Benz USA. The accord, announced yesterday, is part of a weighty $149 million deal between the automotive heavyweight and a collective of state attorneys general over accusations of emissions testing chicanery.
At the heart of the dispute is the claim that Mercedes-Benz kitted out over 200,000 of its "environmentally-friendly" diesel vehicles with defeat devices to fake emissions standards compliance during testing. As reported by WTAE, this software manipulation occurred between 2008 and 2016, and unsurprisingly, the actual emissions produced by these machines often exceeded legal limits. This fudging resulted in an all-too-real environmental toll, especially in the Keystone State, where over 10,500 units were sold or registered.
AG Dave Sunday didn't mince words about the luxury automaker's behavior. "This luxury-vehicle manufacturer cut corners to make their products more attractive to consumers, while blatantly lying about the vehicles achieving emissions standards," he announced in an announcement carried by WPXI. As part of the arrangement, Mercedes is set to provide $120 million immediately, with an additional $29.7 million potentially being waived if it successfully deploys a consumer aid program.
Car owners with the implicated vehicles can anticipate a $2,000 payout each, as well as emissions software updates and extended warranties on the house. The efforts to update the vehicles' emissions remain ongoing, with approximately 39,565 cars still requiring updates as of August 1, 2021. Additionally, Mercedes must adhere to stricter reporting rules and business reforms, ensuring there's no recurrence of the marketing practices that landed them in hot water this time around.
