- Transport for London has launched legal action against some of the most popular car brands in the world over claims that emissions concerns meant they avoided paying the Ulez charge.
- The capital's transport authority has called for around £1 billion in costs from major car brands in relation to the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
- It alleges that automakers rigged emissions data, allowing motorists to enter the Ulez without needing to pay, the Financial Times reported.
- The High Court heard that Transport for London made allegations of 'fraud and negligence' against some of the largest auto marques in the world.
- Laurence Page, a barrister for London's transport organisation, said automakers 'expressly or impliedly represented' that vehicles complied with emissions standards.
- TfL is pursuing a potential £1 billion legal action against car manufacturers over vehicles that it argues should not have been allowed to drive freely in the capital’s clean-air zone.
- Legal action was launched in 2024 but stayed pending parallel 'dieselgate' litigation, which sought to establish that car manufacturers deliberately designed cars to mask the true level of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution.
- TfL has been granted a stay until October, as lawyers in the dieselgate case consider an appeal over the verdict on which TfL’s suit would appear to depend.
- TfL argues that manufacturers misled regulators or consumers regarding emissions standards, leading to higher-than-expected pollution levels within the zone.
- Lawyers for TfL argue that vehicles, which should have paid a levy, had entered the Ulez without charge, depriving TfL of revenue and undermining its attempts to improve air quality.
- The owners of the most polluting cars, largely diesels manufactured more than 11 years ago, have to pay a £12.50 daily charge to enter London’s Ulez, which was launched in 2019 and expanded to cover every borough in the capital in 2024.
Transport for London (TfL) is pursuing a £1 billion lawsuit against major car manufacturers, including Stellantis, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, and Nissan, alleging fraud and negligence regarding emissions compliance in the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez).126
TfL claims that these manufacturers misled regulators and consumers about emissions standards, allowing vehicles that should have paid a £12.50 daily charge to enter the Ulez without penalty. This has reportedly led to higher-than-expected pollution levels and significant revenue loss for TfL, which relies on these charges to fund air quality improvements.11
Laurence Page, a barrister for TfL, stated, “The representations were false, made dishonestly or recklessly, alternatively negligently, and caused TfL loss.” The lawsuit, which was launched in 2024, has been temporarily stayed pending the outcome of related litigation concerning the so-called “dieselgate” scandal, which involves allegations that car manufacturers designed vehicles to conceal true nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.7
TfL argues that the legal action is necessary to recover lost revenues and uphold air quality standards in London. However, critics have described the lawsuit as a “financial bail-out disguised as consumer advocacy,” raising concerns about its implications for the automotive industry in the UK.
As the case unfolds, TfL has been granted a stay until October while awaiting developments in the dieselgate litigation, which could significantly impact the outcome of its claims against the manufacturers.8
“The High Court heard that TfL alleges automakers misled regulators about emissions standards, leading to higher pollution levels. Laurence Page, a barrister for TfL, stated that the representations were false and caused significant financial loss to the transport authority.”
GB News
The Guardian
