OLG rejects climate action against Mercedes-Benz
Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has also failed in the second instance in its attempt to force the car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz to make a climate-friendly conversion. The Stuttgart Higher Regional Court (OLG) rejected the DUH's appeal on Thursday, confirming a ruling by the Stuttgart Regional Court. The decision is not yet legally binding. It can be appealed to the Federal Court of Justice. (Ref. 12 U 170/22)
The environmentalists want Mercedes-Benz to change course. Among other things, the company should no longer be allowed to sell conventional combustion engines that emit greenhouse gases from November 2030.
However, the OLG ruled that the plaintiffs' appeal was clearly unfounded. The DUH is therefore not entitled to any claim. The plaintiffs had also not shown that the state was obliged to prohibit the car manufacturer from selling new cars with combustion engines after October 31, 2030 or, under certain circumstances, from today.
The OLG's decision is a setback for the environmental processes aimed at promoting climate-friendly cars, as it rejects the DUH's appeal against Mercedes-Benz. Despite this judgment, the environmentalists' criticism of the car industry's role in climate change remains a significant factor in public judgments on automotive companies.
Source: www.dpa.com
