The car manufacturer Opel has in front of the Schleswig-Holstein administrative court suffered a defeat in Schleswig. The group had tried with an emergency application, the immediate recall of about 95,000 Euro -6-models of the types Zafira, Cascada and Insignia but still to prevent.
The Chamber has now at least rejected the application for immediate implementation. In their view, there are serious indications that the opinion of the KBA is correct, the court said on Monday. According to the court, the agency had argued that another voluntary recall was not sufficient, “as the software update that is considered necessary to improve nitrogen oxide emissions for several thousand vehicles is still pending”.
Court: Opel’s reputation already damaged
This view was followed by the administrative judges. The “reputational damage” quoted by Opel as a result of the recall had already occurred through a “well-deficient technique” anyway. More important now is the “public interest in the production of the legality of the vehicles in circulation”. It is important to improve the quality of the environment and the environment health to protect.
Opel lodged an objection against the decision. The current decision of the Administrative Court can be appealed to the Higher Administrative Court within two weeks.
Opel is accused of using a control program that down-regulates the additional nitrogen oxide purification of the exhaust gases at high speeds and in a wide range of outside temperatures. Opel has always defended the technology because it is necessary for the protection of engine components – the vehicles would comply with the applicable regulations.
With the rejection of the express application moves for many Opel owners a workshop visit now closer. The impact of such an intervention is controversial and difficult to determine.