A landmark trial has commenced at London’s High Court, marking the latest development in the dieselgate emissions scandal that has plagued the auto industry for over a decade. The case involves five major carmakers – Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot-Citroen, Renault, and Nissan – which are accused of installing systems in their diesel vehicles designed to cheat clean air laws.

The trial, expected to last three months, will determine whether these systems were intended to circumvent emissions tests, potentially paving the way for billions of pounds in compensation for affected motorists. The claims were brought on behalf of 1.6 million motorists against 14 carmakers, including Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Vauxhall-Opel, and BMW.

The dieselgate scandal first emerged in 2015 when Volkswagen admitted to fitting millions of vehicles with software to manipulate emissions test results. The scandal has since ensnared several other top carmakers, leading to legal action in multiple countries, including France, South Korea, and the United States.

Campaigners and claimants are seeking justice and compensation, citing the harmful effects of air pollution on public health, particularly for children. Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, whose daughter died from an asthma attack linked to air pollution, joined protesters outside the court, calling for manufacturers to be held accountable.

The court will examine evidence to determine whether the carmakers installed defeat devices in cars to reduce nitrogen oxide readings and cheat emissions tests. The five lead defendants deny that their systems were designed to circumvent the tests. If the court finds in favor of the claimants, it could lead to significant compensation payouts.

The trial’s outcome will have far-reaching implications for the auto industry and could encourage the government to take action to remove polluting vehicles from the roads. While the trial is a crucial step towards holding manufacturers accountable, any potential compensation for claimants will have to wait until a separate phase next year.

The carmakers involved have rejected the claims, with some stating that their vehicles complied with regulations at the time. However, the precedent set by Volkswagen’s settlement in 2020, where the company paid £193 million to 91,000 British motorists, suggests that the outcome of this trial could be significant. With over 32 billion euros in penalties paid by Volkswagen to date, the dieselgate scandal continues to have a profound impact on the auto industry.