A 2010 Nissan Leaf Zero Emission is showcased at the Washington Auto Show in Washington, D.C. A British court case pointed to Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot/Citroen, Renault and Nissan as its named defendant as global car producers proclaim innocence in the emission test scandal. File Photo by Madeline Marshall/UPI | License Photo
Oct. 13 (UPI) — Europe’s years-long “dieselgate” scandal is set to begin court proceedings Monday in Britain’s high court that potentially could impact over one million car owners and a handful of manufacturers.
The landmark trial described as the largest class action lawsuit in English and Welsh history is the culmination in a decade-long legal battle over allegations at least five major car manufacturers utilized software that allowed new cars to reduce its emissions under testing conditions.
It pointed to Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot/Citroen, Renault and Nissan as its named defendants. But the global car producers proclaim innocence.
“A decade after the ‘dieselgate’ scandal first came to light, 1.6 million (British) motorists now get their chance to establish at trial whether their vehicles contained technology designed to cheat emissions tests,” attorney Martyn Day, part of 22 law firms representing drivers, told the BBC and the Independent.
Scores of other car makers — including Opel, Hyundai/Kia, Porsche, Volkswagon, BMW, Suzuki, Toyota, Volvo, Mazda and Jaguar Land Rover — may face similar action depending on outcome.
The “dieselgate” emissions scandal was exposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2015 following the revelation that a number of diesel-powered VW models contained deceptive emissions-monitoring devices.
On Monday, Day said if the court ruled on the side of consumers that it would “demonstrate one of the most egregious breaches of corporate trust in modern times.”
“It would also mean that people across (Britain) have been breathing in far more harmful emissions from these vehicles than they were told about, potentially putting the health of millions at risk,” Day added.
However, the companies have attempted to push back against allegations of wrongdoing.
A Mercedes spokesperson said its test mechanisms were “justifiable from a technical and legal standpoint,” while Ford stated the claims had “no merit.”
According to Nissan, it was “committed to compliance in all markets in which we operate.”
In May, a German court convicted four ex-Volkswagen officials of fraud years after “Dieselgate” got exposed.
Meanwhile, a judgment in Britain’s “dieselgate” case is not expected until sometime mid-next year. A later hearing to determine compensation could follow if Britain rules against the carmakers.
Published on 26/08/2025 – 12:50 GMT+2 •Updated
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Struggling Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co. saw its shares sink by more than 6% in Tokyo on Tuesday after the company’s second-biggest shareholder, Mercedes-Benz, announced that its pension fund was selling its entire 3.8% stake.
Mercedes’ withdrawal comes as Nissan is implementing a restructuring plan, designed to reduce costs and improve profitability. The Japanese car producer reported a net loss of ¥670.9bn (€3.91bn) for the year that ended in March, and it was followed by a quarterly net loss of ¥115.8bn (€674mn) for the April-June quarter.
Nissan suspended its financial guidance for the year and announced a restructuring plan, which includes cutting 20,000 jobs and closing factories.
Shareholders haven’t shown much confidence so far in the plans. Nissan stock has lost more than 28% of its value in the year to date, sending the company’s market capitalisation below €7.4bn.
The stocks briefly rose after US President Donald Trump said in July that he would lower tariffs on Japanese car imports to 15%, but the momentum was short-lived.
A spokesperson from Mercedes-Benz said in an email that Nissan shares, that have been held in pension assets since 2016, were “not of strategic importance”.
Nissan’s long-term allies include the French carmaker Renault, which bailed out the Japanese company in 1999 and gained 37% ownership. This was later increased to around 43%, although Nissan has gradually been reducing its holding.
AN ICONIC carmaker has been thrown a £1billion lifeline from the UK Government.
The struggling car maker had announced plans to axe over 20,000 members of staff due to soaring production costs and disappointing sales.
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An iconic carmaker is on an urgent mission to save £5 billionCredit: Getty
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Over 20,000 jobs could be cut as part of the brand’s bid to save cashCredit: AFP
Nissan is looking to raise £5.2billion to stay afloat, with UK Export Finance underwriting a £1billion loan – which will support the beleaguered company.
The manufacturer is planning to cut its number of factories from 17 down to 10.
This has prompted fears that the brand’s Sunderland factory could be under threat.
While Nissan has not confirmed the fate of its only UK factory, its CEO Ivan Espinosa has insisted that more electric cars will be produced there.
It is hoped that the £1billion loan from Nissan’s lenders, underwritten by The Government, will protect the site.
The huge cash injection is just a fifth of the 1Trillion Yen needed by the company to survive.
It will also look to issue as much as 630billion yen in convertible securities and bonds, including high-yield and euro notes.
He said: “In the face of challenging full-year 2024 performance and rising variable costs compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume.”
He added: “As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery.”
Work on all “advanced and post-FY26 product activities” has been paused, though Nissan has not confirmed which particular vehicles will face suspension.
Mr Espinosa has previously issued a full statement about Nissan’s financial woes.
He said: “This is not something that happened in the last couple of years.
“It’s more of a fundamental problem that probably started back in 2015, when management thought this company could reach [annual global vehicle sales] of around eight million.
“There were heavy investments both in terms of planned capacity as well as in human resources, but the reality today is we are running at around half that volume. And nobody did anything to fix that until now.”
A MAJOR car brand is reportedly looking to raise £5billion including a loan guaranteed by the UK government after axing 20,000 jobs.
Cash-strapped Nissan, Japan’s third-largest carmaker, is already facing £4billion in losses – its worst annual loss in a quarter century.
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Nissan is trying to raise more than £5billion according to reportsCredit: Getty
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The Japanese automaker has been struggling financially recentlyCredit: Getty
But now, the company are said to be considering raising more than 1 trillion yen – just over £5 billion – from debt and asset sales in a bid to prop up Nissan.
The struggling Japanese automaker plans to issue as much as 630 billion yen in convertible securities and bonds, including high-yielding US dollar and euro notes, according to Bloomberg News.
The move would also include a £1billion syndicated loan guaranteed by the British government, the documents show.
Sale-and-lease-back plans for its Yokohama headquarters, plus properties it owns in the United States, are also reportedly on the cards.
The aggressive fundraising plans underscore Nissan’s rapidly deteriorating financial and operational position, despite efforts by newly appointed chief executive Ivan Espinosa to turn the company around.
In addition, Nissan is reportedly seeking to sell part of the stakes it owns in Renault and battery maker AESC Group, as well as plants in South Africa and Mexico.
Bloomberg News cited sources as saying Nissan’s board did not appear to have approved the funding proposal yet, leaving it unclear whether it would happen.
The proposal was also slated to include the rollover of some debt, the report said.
A Nissan representative said the company does not comment on speculation.
It comes after Nissan said they could part ways with its global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, to fund the company’s urgent restructuring plan.
After having moved to the 22-story high-rise in 2009, the car manufacturer is now facing mountains of debt and is on track to cut 20,000 jobs, shut several of its plants and slash billions in costs.
With a glitzy gallery, the flashy headquarters can showcase more than thirty motors and stands in stark contrast to their previous offices.
Legendary Nissan model is officially discontinued after selling for nearly 20 years as leaked car to ‘take its place’
The company have said that part of their plan has called for reviewing assets that can be sold in a desperate bid to pay for the restructuring.
With its own headquarters in sight, thought to be worth approximately £500 million, Nissan would structure a deal so it could continue to use the site through a lease so its offices and operations remain in place.
A company spokesperson said: “Nissan is considering all possibilities to recover its business performance, but there are no specifics to share at this point of time.”
The move is not unprecedented, however, with McLaren doing something similar with its HQ in Woking in recent years.
There have also been reports of downsizing or a partial sale of its Tochigi assembly plan and test centre facility north of Tokyo which was recently equipped with manufacturing technologies to assemble electric vehicles.
To underline the dire financial situation, the motor company is even halting the development of certain models to cut its expenses.
He said: “This is not something that happened in the last couple of years.
“It’s more of a fundamental problem that probably started back in 2015, when management thought this company could reach [annual global vehicle sales] of around eight million.
“There were heavy investments both in terms of planned capacity as well as in human resources, but the reality today is we are running at around half that volume. And nobody did anything to fix that until now.”
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Cost-cutting measures will already see thousands of job losses with multiple factory closuresCredit: AFP
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The manufacturer is facing mountains of debtCredit: Getty
BUYING a used car involves lots of decisions. What size and style do you want? Are you petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV? Should you buy as cheaply as possible or invest as much as you can?
We can’t answer any of these questions, but we can tell you what the UK’s most popular car for sale on Sun Motors is.
When it was launched, this compact crossover SUV pretty much defined the category. It’s nearly 20 years old but remains as popular as ever.
I’ve driven the Nissan Qashqai and I’ll give you my honest opinion of its good points, bad points and anything else I can remember that’s relevant.
What are the most popular used cars?
Sun Motors is a nationwide marketplace that connects thousands of buyers and dealers. We keep track of every purchase and can reveal our list of the 10 most popular used cars in the UK.
You already know that at the top of the charts is the Nissan Qashqai. Here’s a list of the rest…
Nissan Qashqai
VW Golf
Mercedes A-Class
Mini (all models)
Kia Sportage
BMW 1 Series
Ford Kuga
BMW 3 Series
Audi A3
Hyundai Tucson
Buying a used car? Find cars for under £200 on Sun Motors here.
Nissan Qashqai used car review
The Nissan Qashqai may have a name that you’ll struggle to spell, but its appeal isn’t hard to spot.
It’s a crossover SUV, which means it looks like a car that’s capable of running off-road and has an elevated driving position, but in reality, it’s a pretty refined and reliable city car.
We’re going to talk about the second-generation (and subsequent) models that launched in 2013.
With this version, Nissan ironed out all the faults and created the UK’s favourite (sort of) SUVs.
It’s now beloved by middle managers, school-run mums and dads and anyone for whom a MINI was just a little bit too small.
Modern versions are even more aggressive-looking but, for our money, don’t look as good.
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Models such as this Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi n-tec+ SUV 5dr Diesel Manual 2WD Euro 6 can be found on Sun Motors for as little as £130 per month – it has 68K miles and is from 2015
The high-up driving position offers great visibility, and the responsive handling makes the car manoeuvrable enough to slide into that supermarket parking spot.
OK, so it’s not going to knock your socks off or make you smile too much, but it’s a family car, so we never expected it would.
Sun Motors: Buy your next vehicle today
If you’re part of the 3.3 million Brits looking to buy a used vehicle this year, Sun Motors is an ideal place to start
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Sun Motors is a seamless, straightforward, transparent platform that ranks by customer searches, not payments. It offers innovative financing and concierge services, ensuring a simple, fair car-buying experience.
Enjoy:
A choice of fuel type whether it’s petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid
A range of models from convertible, estate, saloon and many more
A range of top brands such as Ford, Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW
There have been far too many engine variations (including petrol, diesel, hybrid and the latest e-POWER powertrain) for us to run through them all.
Reviewers seem to favour the 1.3-litre DIG-T 140 mild-hybrid petrol engine, and we won’t argue.
Bad points are, as you’d expect, few and far between. The Qashqai is quite expensive as a used car, with other makes and models perhaps a little cheaper to buy, run and insure.
The Qashqai is, like lots of crossovers, a bit of a fake too. It’s not really an off-roader like the Range Rover, but not many people need that sort of performance (or can afford the price).
Are Nissan Qashqais reliable?
The Nissan Qashqai isn’t quite as reliable as the bullet-proof Nissan cars of old, with the 2014-21 diesel models in particular suffering from engine and exhaust problems.
Overall though, it’s a sturdy family motor that shouldn’t leave you stranded by the roadside.
Try to buy one with a full service history, ensure all recalls are done and check receipts for any work.
How much is a Nissan Qashqai?
Nissan Qashqais start from £5,000 for a 10-year old (2015) model with over 100,000 miles on the clock. Nearly new models, including the e-POWER version, can cost over £35,000.
As a ballpark, expect to pay around £15-17,000 for a 2020 Qashqai.
It’s not the cheapest car on the market, with some used models that are as expensive as a new Dacia Duster, for example, but it’ll hold its value.
Is Nissan Qashqai a 4×4?
The Nissan Qashqai isn’t a true 4×4 like a Land Rover, Range Rover, etc, but you can find both front-wheel drive (FWD) and four-wheel drive (AWD) models on the market.
In off-road mode the 4×4 Qashqai will tackle difficult terrain like mud and gravel, more much more confidently than the 2WD version.
Most drivers who really need 4WD performance should look elsewhere. In the end, they probably already were.
Used Nissan Qashqais for sale
We’ve scoured Sun Motors to find three top used cars for sale. You’ll need to get in quick to secure these…
This isn’t the cheapest Qashqai on the market, but it’s arguably one of the best-value used motors we’ve seen.
Don’t let the 60,000+ miles on the clock put you off. This Acenta Premium model comes with 17” alloys, a good touchscreen and parking sensors.
It’ll do 55mpg all day long, too. That’s why this is our bargain buy.
Awesome auto: Nissan Qashqais SUV 1.3 DIG-T Tekna
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Reviewers love the 1.3 litre DIG-T petrol engine for its power, control and reliability.
This automatic Qashqai is in Tekna trim, featuring cool 18-inch alloy wheels, a Bose sound system, and a head-up display. Nice.
High-class hybrid: Nissan Qashqai 1.5 E-Power Acenta Premium 5dr Auto
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The 2024 Qashqai is a thoroughly modern car. Its petrol/electric hybrid motor produces an impressive 188bhp.
It’s quiet, quick and has the mean look of the new Qashqai.
This particular car has fewer than 5,000 miles on the clock, so it’s as nearly new as it gets.
Buying a used car? Check out Sun Motors and find your next vehicle today. Whether you’re looking for automatic, manual or electric, use Sun Motors to decide on your next model.
