Mercedes-Benz is getting sued in Stuttgart over alleged emissions cheating software 

Mercedes-Benz is being sued in its hometown of Stuttgart by Germany’s Federal Association of Consumers over alleged manipulation of 250,000 Daimler products' emissions.

In the filing of the class-action lawsuit by Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (VZBV) on Wednesday, two Mercedes-Benz models – the GLC and GLK – were identified as allegedly having been equipped with illegal emissions manipulation software.

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Mercedes GLC 250

"The reason for this [the lawsuit] is numerous recalls by the [German] Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt or KBA) of Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLK models with the OM651 engine type due to impermissible disconnection devices," VZBV said in a statement.

VZBV claims the carmaker used illegal methods, including a ‘thermo switch’ which alters the filtering of exhaust emissions.

“By installing such devices, manufacturers can ensure vehicles comply with the permissible limit values for exhaust gases during type approval. In road traffic, however, they clearly exceed these values,” VZBV said.

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Mercedes-Benz GLC

Regardless of the KBA’s official recalls, however, Mercedes staunchly denies any wrongdoing, stating the lawsuit is ‘unfounded’.

"Despite official recalls, Daimler continues to dispute it manipulated exhaust emission figures," Klaus Müller, head of VZBZ, said.

In 2018, Mercedes was forced by the KBA to recall more than 670,000 of its vehicles in Europe, which encompassed several models across its product catalogue, including the C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, GLC, Vito and Sprinter.

A spokesperson for the German company told Autocar: "We have not yet been served with the model declaratory action. We consider the claims asserted against us in diesel lawsuits to be unfounded and will continue to defend ourselves against them - also in the context of a possible model declaratory action."

A spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz Australia was unable to comment on the matter due to the ongoing overseas legal proceedings.

WhichCar will update this story as more information becomes available.