Mercedes GLK Under Investigation By German Authorities In New Diesel Probe

No fewer than 60,000 Mercedes-Benz GLK models are being investigated by Germany’s KBA motor vehicle authority on suspicion of being fitted with emissions-cheating software.

Specifically, authorities are looking into “suspicious” software installed in GLK 220 CDI models produced between 2012 and 2015, after tests have shown that they only meet emissions standards when a certain function is activated, according to Bild am Sonntag.

This function was later removed during a software update carried out by the automaker, alleges the German paper. A spokesman for Daimler stated that they are currently reviewing the facts and are cooperating fully with the KBA, while adding that Mercedes had complied with a process agreed upon with the KBA and the German Transport Ministry when they had to recall 3 million vehicles and update their software to reduce NOx emissions.

“The allegation that we wanted to hide something with the voluntary service measure is incorrect,” said the spokesman, reports Autonews Europe.

Of course, Daimler ordering the recall of 3 million vehicles to fix excess diesel engine emissions, came after the VW Group admitted in 2015 to cheating on U.S. emissions tests.

Earlier this month, European Union antitrust regulators charged Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen with colluding to block the rollout of emissions-cleaning technology, between 2006 and 2014. Curiously enough, it was actually Daimler who alerted authorities about this collusion. BMW meanwhile claimed that for their part, no “deliberate unlawful manipulation of the emission control system” took place.