Daimler AG has confirmed its decision to subsidize all owners willing to upgrade their Euro-5 Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles for compliance with the latest emission standards. Anyone who bought a diesel-powered Mercedes in late 2000s or early 2010s is entitled for a €3,000 payment.
Apparently, the manufacturer was forced to launch the initiative when municipalities started banning the use of non-compliant diesel vehicles altogether.
The Euro-5-to-6 upgrade package is likely only the first step in a series of measures Mercedes will be taking to keep its legacy up to date and on the streets. Similar upgrade programs may soon be announced for other engines as well.
It should be noted that the company did not originally intend to subsidize air filter replacement for its customers, but a group of activists pushed a successful lawsuit urging the manufacturer to take the responsibility.
Chances are fairly good that the German automotive marque will make a complete transition to electrified and all-electric powertrains in the future. In fact, first production EVs are already emerging, and more are being planned. The video here shows the company’s first zero-emission SUV, the Mercedes EQC.