LONDON, Oct 8 (Reuters) – The High Court in London has denied claimants permission to appeal its earlier ruling, which largely supported major car manufacturers in relation to diesel emissions litigation. The decision was announced on Thursday, following a trial that began in October 2025.
The legal proceedings involve around 1.6 million claimants contesting the actions of various automotive manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault, and Stellantis, after allegations arose in the wake of Volkswagen’s “Dieselgate” scandal. The claimants argued that these manufacturers had fitted vehicles with unlawful “defeat devices” to cheat emissions tests.
Judge Sara Cockerill rejected the appeal application but indicated she would provide a comprehensive explanation for her decision at a later date. Following this ruling, the legal representatives for the claimants announced plans to apply directly to the Court of Appeal in an effort to revive the lawsuits.
Martyn Day, senior partner at the law firm Leigh Day, which represents the claimants, expressed disappointment over the outcome but emphasized that this was not the end of the legal battle for their clients. “This is far from the end of the road for the 1.6 million clients bringing a legal claim over Dieselgate,” he stated.
The court’s earlier ruling found that most allegations against the sampled vehicles had no merit, leading to substantial victories for the involved carmakers. A detailed reasoning for the High Court’s decision is expected to be released in the future.
