The parent company of Mercedes Benz faces legal action over an emissions scandal in which the car maker was fined €870m for selling allegedly rigged diesel vehicles.

Commercial firm Milberg Ltd is taking on UK claimants against Daimler AG. The car company is accused of selling diesel vehicles with software that made their engines appear cleaner than they were. It was fined €870m by German prosecutors last year for failing to comply with emissions regulations and was forced to recall 774,000 diesel vehicles in 2018.

In a similar group action, the High Court last month ruled that Volkswagen had installed unlawful ‘defeat devices’ in thousands of diesel engines, opening the way to compensation awards. 

Milberg Ltd is an affiliate firm of US class action outfit Milberg Phillips Grossman LLP, and is involved in both Mercedes and Volkswagen emissions lawsuits in the UK. In 2018, Sanders Phillips Grossman, which merged to form Milberg, opened an office in Liverpool to target UK claims arising from the VW scandal.

The firm’s website says it has recovered over $50 billion in verdicts and settlements since it was founded in 1965. 

Milberg Ltd is calling on anyone who owned or leased a ‘BlueTec’ diesel Mercedes manufactured between September 2009 and February 2016. Partner Marc Grossman said: ‘We hope this action sends a message to the entire auto industry that there are consequences for recklessly pursuing profits.’

A spokesperson for Daimler said: ‘We believe that the claims are without merit and will vigorously defend against any group action.’