TfL brings case worth up to £1bn against carmakers over Ulez compliance
Guardian AU Business
•Wed, 29 Jul 2026 17:03:10 GMT
📰 What Happened
TfL is pursuing up to £1 billion in legal action against car manufacturers including Stellantis, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, and Nissan, alleging fraud and negligence over non-compliant diesel vehicles entering the Ulez without paying.
🔍 The Backstory
London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) was expanded to cover all London boroughs in 2024, requiring charges for older, more polluting vehicles. The 'dieselgate' scandal revealed that many diesel vehicles emitted far more nitrogen oxides in real-world driving than in laboratory tests, leading to widespread litigation.
🎯 Why It Matters
The case could set a major precedent for how cities can hold manufacturers accountable for air quality violations. A £1 billion award would be one of the largest environmental compensation cases in UK history and could fund further clean air initiatives across London.
TfL is pursuing up to £1 billion in legal action against car manufacturers including Stellantis, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW, and Nissan, alleging fraud and negligence over non-compliant diesel vehicles entering the Ulez without paying.
London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) was expanded to cover all London boroughs in 2024, requiring charges for older, more polluting vehicles. The 'dieselgate' scandal revealed that many diesel vehicles emitted far more nitrogen oxides in real-world driving than in laboratory tests, leading to widespread litigation.
The case could set a major precedent for how cities can hold manufacturers accountable for air quality violations. A £1 billion award would be one of the largest environmental compensation cases in UK history and could fund further clean air initiatives across London.