UK court blocks appeal in diesel emissions lawsuits against carmakers

London's High Court on Thursday refused claimants permission to appeal against its July ruling, which largely favoured some of the world's biggest carmakers in a long-running dispute over diesel emissions.The court had dismissed most allegations that 20 sample vehicles manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault and Stellantis-owned Peugeot and Citroen were equipped with illegal "defeat devices" that allegedly resulted in higher emissions.The ruling followed a trial that began in October 2025 and represented the most significant hearing so far in 13 groups of lawsuits involving around 1.6 million claimants, according to the reuters.Judge Sara Cockerill denied the claimants permission to appeal her ruling, saying they would have to approach the Court of Appeal directly if they wished to challenge the decision.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.