A judge in England rules that carmakers broadly did not use “prohibited defeat devices” in vehicles covered by the initial phase of a major class action claim, according to reporting on Friday. The decision is described as a loss for millions of drivers bringing what is commonly referred to as “Dieselgate 2,” a follow-on litigation wave tied to allegations of illegal emissions-related software.
In the ruling, the judge finds that the cars in question do not contain defeat devices that would fall within the legal definition asserted by claimants. The case is presented as the largest class action of its kind in English legal history, with the challenge seeking accountability for alleged emissions cheating.
The outlets focus on the outcome of this first stage, but both also indicate the matter concerns the existence of defeat devices rather than final resolution of every aspect of the dispute. The decision therefore represents an early setback for claimants at the High Court stage of the litigation, as reported.
