Daimler 'facing scrutiny over 120,000 Vito, C-Class diesel vehicles'

Frankfurt

DAIMLER faces an investigation of 40,000 diesel Vito vans and 80,000 C-Class model cars for possible illicit software that allowed the vehicles to emit excess pollution without detection, Bild am Sonntag reported, without citing any sources.

Daimler has submitted a software update for the engines for regulatory approval, the German weekly paper said on Sunday.

The report comes after the German motor authority KBA last week ordered Daimler to recall around 6,300 Vito vans that were fitted with 1.6 litre diesel Euro-6 engines globally because of engine control features to reduce exhaust emissions, which KBA said breached regulations.

The carmaker reiterated that it was cooperating fully with KBA but would appeal against the Vito recall decision and fight it in court, if necessary.

German transport minister Andreas Scheuer has summoned Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche to a meeting at the ministry scheduled for Monday to discuss the Vito recall.

The daily Bild reported on Friday that Daimler also faces a recall order for more than 600,000 diesel-engine vehicles including C-Class and G-Class models.

Since rival Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating US emissions tests, German carmakers including VW, Daimler and BMW have faced a backlash against diesel technology in which they have invested billions of euros. REUTERS