Mercedes C-Class, Vito, and GLC European models affected by latest issue with diesel emissions ‘defeat devices,’ BBC News reports.
Over the past few decades, diesel engines have been able to run more cleanly than before thanks to low-sulfur fuel and urea treatments. However, for several years, “diesel” has been a dirty word because of corporate deception connected to the emissions modern diesel engines actually produce, “Dieselgate” being the best known case of it.
Now comes news that the German government has ordered Daimler to recall 238,000 vehicles in Germany over emissions concerns because they’re equipped with what the German ministry of transportation calls “illegal shutdown devices.” According to BBC News, “Across Europe, a total of 774,000 diesel vehicles contain ‘defeat devices’ and Daimler said it would recall them all.” Most of the vehicles that will be affected by this initiative are the diesel versions of the C-Class, Vito, and GLC.
German transport minister Andreas Scheuer said, “Daimler states that it will, at maximum speed and with co-operative transparency with the authorities, remove the applications in the engine control system which the government objects to.” BBC News reports that Daimler chairman, Dieter Zetsche, said that the automaker has found a solution to the software issue and that he doesn’t expect Daimler to be fined. Daimler will make alterations to their software, but has not admitted any wrongdoing.
Dieselgate did a lot of damage to Volkswagen’s management structure and reputation, but this newest recall may not have as detrimental an effect on Daimler. At least one industry professional, an analyst named Arndt Ellinghorst with investment banking advisory firm Evercore ISI, doesn’t think these developments will hurt Daimler.
“We don’t see any evidence that Daimler was designing software to deliberately cheat on emission testing,” Ellinghorst told BBC News. He added, “The criticised software is part of engine management and so called auxiliary emissions control devices [which can turn off emissions controls during driving for other reasons, such as to protect the engine].”
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
