The largest ever class action in the UK was under consideration in High Court this week involving 1.5 million vehicle owners.
New analysis shows 9.8 million diesel cars (Euro Standards 3-6) still on the road in the UK as of June 2024, with real world testing showing average NOₓ emissions far in excess of regulatory limits. These models emit 70,300 tonnes of excess NOx annually above legal limits which represents almost 40% (38.9%) of UK NOₓ emissions from road transport.
Half (52.2%) of all UK NOx emissions from road transport caused by diesel cars but only representing a third of all cars; there are 10.7 million diesel cars still on UK roads
Some 7.5 million diesel cars certified to Euro Standards 5 and 6 are still on the roads. These models are explicitly linked to illegal ‘defeat devices’, installed by manufacturers to cheat emissions testing. These models emit 51,400 tonnes of excess NOx annually above legal limits – which represents 28.5% of UK NOₓ emissions from road transport.
MPs, campaign group Mums for Lungs and over 50 organisations call for disclosure of court documents in the public interest; while parents urge a £1bn fund from government and car manufacturers to phase out all diesels.
A separate study by the International Council on Clean Transportation from 2023 using data from 1,400 official government tests across the UK and EU under controlled settings found that 77 per cent of Euro 6 diesel cars (Euro 6 being the name of the current EU emissions rules) and 85 per cent of the older Euro 5 cars have “suspicious” test results, indicating the likely use of a prohibited ‘defeat device’.
Diesel cars made by 13 leading manufacturers could be recalled as a result of a government investigation into emissions test cheating and the biggest ever class action in the UK. More than 1.5 million vehicle owners are likely to be involved in the legal action led by Pogust Goodhead – the biggest group claim ever. While diesel sales may have decreased, millions of diesel cars remain on the roads as many drivers repair and maintain them.
A group of parents organised by Mums for Lungs protested outside the High Court of Justice in London on Monday this week in order to demonstrate the level of public concern about Dieselgate, and an open letter to the Judge calling for the disclosure of documents in the case has been signed by two MPs, including Sian Berry, former Green Party leader, an NHS hospital, and over 50 major charities and campaign groups. Representatives from Asthma and Lung UK, the UK Health Alliance for Climate Change and Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah supported the letter and handover to the court.
The news comes as the law firm Pogust Goodhead plans to launch the biggest group claim ever to come before any of the UK courts.
Pogust Goodhead is the lead or co-lead of the largest number of Dieselgate legal claims, representing more than 700,000 diesel vehicle owners in claims against the major vehicle manufacturers alleged to have cheated emissions tests. In total, more than 1.5 million vehicle owners are involved in the legal action – the biggest group claim ever to come before any of the UK courts. Key documents in the legal case have not yet been disclosed under the public interest test. (3)
After a series of major High Court hearings over the last 11 months, the High Court has ruled the first Dieselgate trial will be that of cars manufactured by Mercedes, Ford, Nissan/Renault, and Peugeot/Citroën, which will take place in October 2025.
In total, Pogust Goodhead is pursuing claims against thirteen major vehicle manufacturers, which, in addition to the above, include Volkswagen, Porsche, BMW, Vauxhall, Fiat Chrysler, Suzuki, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Hyundai-Kia and Mazda.
