Daimler Recalls More Than 3 Million Diesels in Europe

Daimler AG says it will spend €220 million ($254 million) to modify more than 3 million of its diesel engines in Europe to reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides.

The voluntary recall comes a week after Daimler met with Germany’s transport ministry to discuss suspicions that the carmaker had rigged more than 1 million of its 4- and 6-cylinder diesels to evade European tailpipe limits for NOx, a group of gases linked to respiratory problems.

Daimler has been conducting similar modifications for one of its diesel engine designs since March. But CEO Dieter Zetsche says the company decided to broaden the campaign to dispel uncertainty and “strengthen confidence in diesel technology.”

The updates, which will be performed at no cost to owners, target NOx levels for almost all of the company’s Euro 5- and Euro 6-spec engines. Daimler says the campaign will begin later this month.

Daimler is among several diesel makers in Europe under investigation for abusing a regulatory rule that permits diesel emission controls to be suspended if needed to protect the engine. Investigators claim some engines are configured to turn off the system under normal driving conditions.