Mercedes-Benz announced on Saturday that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded its investigation into the diesel emissions issue, absolving the car manufacturer from any charges.
Renata Jungo Bruengger, board member for integrity, governance, and sustainability at Mercedes, stated in an emailed communication that the company had fully cooperated with the DOJ throughout the investigation.
“With the DOJ’s decision, we are taking another important step towards legal certainty in connection with various diesel proceedings,” Bruengger affirmed, corroborating an earlier report by the German newspaper Handelsblatt regarding the DOJ’s resolution.
In 2016, the U.S. DOJ initiated an inquiry, urging Mercedes-Benz to undertake an internal investigation into potential manipulation of emissions values in its diesel vehicles.
The carmaker faced allegations of misleading consumers with false assertions regarding its BlueTEC vehicles, which were marketed as “the world’s cleanest and most advanced diesel.”