BERLIN (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department has concluded its investigation into the Mercedes-Benz (OTC:) diesel emissions scandal and the car maker no longer faces charges, the company said on Saturday.
Mercedes-Benz has fully cooperated with the Justice Department, Renata Jungo Brünger, Mercedes board member for integrity, governance and sustainability, said in an emailed statement.
“With the decision of the Ministry of Justice, we take another important step towards legal certainty in connection with the various proceedings regarding diesel fuel,” she said, confirming an earlier report by the German newspaper Handelsblatt about the decision of the Ministry of Justice.
In 2016, the US Department of Justice called on Mercedes-Benz to conduct an internal investigation into possible manipulation of diesel vehicle emissions figures.
The automaker was accused of deceiving consumers with false information about its BlueTEC vehicles, which it marketed as “the world’s cleanest, most advanced diesel engine.”