Mercedes recalls 3m diesel cars

ALMOST three million Mercedes Benz diesels have been recalled amid concerns over toxic emissions.

In a drastic move that casts fresh doubt over the future of the fuel, the cars and vans will be given a software update.

This one-hour procedure will cut their output of nitrogen oxides, which are linked to respiratory disease.

The recall covers nearly all diesel Mercedes Benz vehicles registered across Europe over the past six years. Experts at the magazine What Car? suggested the move could affect up to 300,000 motorists in Britain.

The German government is scrutinising the environmental performance of diesel engines amid calls for them to be banned in city centres.

Suspicions over the reported emissions of two Mercedes Benz engines resulted in executives of the brand’s owner, Daimler, being summoned to meet officials in Berlin last week.

A previous voluntary recall in March addressed concerns on 274,000 Mercedes Benz compact cars and V- Class vans. Dieter Zetsche, chief executive of Daimler, said yesterday: ‘The public debate about diesel engines is creating uncertainty. We have therefore decided on additional measures to reassure drivers of diesel cars and to strengthen confidence in diesel technology.’

Daimler stressed it did not spell the end of its production of diesel engine cars and vans. However Volvo has announced plans to move towards electric engines and France plans to ban sales of diesel and petrol cars by 2040.

Mr Zetsche added: ‘ We are convinced that diesel engines will continue to be a fixed element of the drive- system mix, not least due to their low CO2 emissions.’

Daimler also stressed last night that the problem was not the same as at VW, which has had to recall millions of cars to remove software that helped it cheat diesel emissions tests.

Labour MP Louise Ellman said last night: ‘This increases the concern about emissions from diesel vehicles and reinforces the need for stricter testing and spot checks on cars. Drivers must be extremely worried about the implications of this recall.’