Daimler AG may need to recall 260,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles after Germany's motor vehicle regulator alerted the carmaker of illegal engine management software potentially installed in the vehicles, Reuters reported Oct. 6, citing German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
The German luxury carmaker was ordered to recall 60,000 diesel cars in June after German regulator Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, or KBA, allegedly discovered that the vehicles had software that manipulates emissions tests. This prompted Daimler to revise its profit outlook for 2019.
On Sept. 24, Daimler disclosed that it was fined €870 million by the Stuttgart public prosecutor for violating diesel emission regulations. At the time, Daimler said it would not appeal the fine because it is in its "best interest to end the administrative offense proceeding in a timely and comprehensive manner."
Most recently, Bild am Sonntag reported that it is likely for Daimler to start the recall process for the Sprinter vans after it had been called to a hearing, Reuters said.
Daimler reportedly confirmed to Reuters that the regulator has called for a hearing related to the company's Sprinter vans.
"KBA has now also initiated a hearing procedure. Daimler has presented the functionality to KBA in May 2018 and thereafter explained it in detail in further meetings since summer 2018. We continue to fully cooperate with KBA," a company spokesman told the news outlet.
Daimler added that the vans in question were from a previous generation of vehicles which have been discontinued since 2016, according to the report.
