Germany Signals Support for Class-Action Lawsuits on Diesel Cheating

Germany’s transport ministry says it is open to the principle of class-action lawsuits against carmakers embroiled in government claims of cheating on diesel emissions.

The revised stance reflects Germany’s parliamentary elections in September and the government’s desire to avoid appearing overly protective of the country’s auto industry.

Germany’s carmakers are to meet on Wednesday with state and federal government representatives to discuss ways to avoid outright bans on diesels, Reuters reports. The news service says German environmental group DUH is threatening to sue the auto industry unless carmakers agree to take “radical” steps to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides.

Carmakers are promoting an array of software updates to pollution control systems as a solution. But Germany’s environment ministry has said software alone won’t be enough to meet the 25% reduction in NOx expected of the companies.

DUH is pushing to force carmakers to also replace or extensively overhaul emission control hardware. The group declares it “will not be fobbed off with a half-backed proposal.”