Louisiana to receive $478,000 from Mercedes settlement

(The Center Square) − Louisiana will receive about $478,000 under a nearly $150 million multistate settlement with Mercedes-Benz USA over allegations the company used illegal emissions-cheating software in hundreds of thousands of diesel vehicles. All 50 states joined the lawsuit, which alleged that Mercedes installed undisclosed software that lowered emissions during government testing but allowed far higher pollution in real-world driving, and then marketed the vehicles as “clean” and “green.” The company denied wrongdoing. “For nearly a decade, Mercedes misled regulators and consumers while its vehicles spewed toxic emissions into our communities,” New York Attorney General Letitia James, who announced the settlement, said in a statement. Under the deal, Mercedes will pay $149,673,750 to states and territories, provide $2,000 payments to eligible owners and lessees who complete approved emissions repairs by Sept. 30, 2026, and implement compliance and reporting reforms.Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill did not respond to requests for comment on the settlement.