Two major carmakers reach settlements with Ohio, owners

(The Center Square) – Two major carmakers owe owners of their vehicles in Ohio fixes for problems, and one owes them cash.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a settlement with Mercedes and another with Hyundai and Kia. Both were multistate settlements.

Mercedes settled for $150 million with 50 states after attorneys general found the company had misled consumers and violated environmental laws. The company has denied wrongdoing.

Mercedes-Benz USA and Mercedes-Benz Group AG sold diesel vehicles from 2008 through 2016 with hidden software designed to cheat emission tests, the lawsuit said.

The attorneys general said the software allowed the vehicles to release more pollution during everyday driving than the law allows.

More than 7,600 vehicles with the illegal software, known as “defeat devices,” were sold in Ohio.

At the same time, according to Yost, the company advertised the vehicles as environmentally friendly and compliant with emissions laws.

Yost said the softwar...