Even half a year after the new CEO Ola Källenius took office, a speedy conclusion of the diesel affair for the Daimler Group is not foreseeable. Recently, the automaker has reported to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) two more so-called defeat devices in the exhaust control of its diesel vehicles.
Affected by SPIEGEL information this time are smaller diesel engines that Daimler has acquired from Renault and installed in models such as the A- and B-Class. The KBA is currently investigating the eye-catching software, an official recall of thousands of cars threatens. And although, according to estimates from government circles already around 4.5 million Daimler models in Europe are affected by recall and software updates, of which about 1.3 million by order of the authorities. This corresponds to practically the entire diesel fleet with the pollution categories Euro 5 and 6.
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Daimler denies having violated laws. The Group has appealed against the previous KBA decisions. The clarification process with the KBA is not yet completed, told Daimler the SPIEGEL. It can not be ruled out that the authority will issue further recall orders, said a spokesman.
Annoyed by the salami tactic
In connection with the diesel affair, Daimler has been in contact with the KBA for years. In the summer of 2017, the automaker announced so-called voluntary service measures for more than three million vehicles in Europe. Later, however, the KBA also ordered mandatory recalls, most recently for 260,000 Sprinter vehicles. Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU), whose ministry is subordinated to the KBA, accused Daimler of "salami tactics" and "trickery", because again and again new cases of suspicion appeared.
The relationship between automaker and Department of Transportation has been strained for many months. In September, the Stuttgart Public Prosecutor's Office also imposed a fine of 870 million euros on Daimler for breaching its supervisory duties.
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