With fluctuating fuel prices and mounting environmental concerns, fuel economy has moved to the top of most consumers’ shopping lists. But apparently Mercedes-Benz hasn’t received that message yet as the German automaker has been fined the second highest amount ever for violating federal fuel economy regulations.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration handed down $28.9 million in fines to Mercedes-Benz on Tuesday for violating federal fuel economy standards. The former Daimler Chrysler holds the record for the highest amount ever fined — $30.3 million in 2007 – which was largely due to Mercedes’ imported passenger car vehicles.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the NHTSA raked in $37 million in fuel economy fines in 2008 from six different automakers. Mercedes’ contributions were clearly the biggest chunk of that total, 78 percent to be exact, with Volkswagen ’s fines coming in at second on the list with $4.5 million in fines.
Although some top end manufacturers consider CAFE fines just a part of normal business operations, that attitude will likely change in the coming years. Fuel economy standards are slated to increase by 25 percent over the next six years, which means fines will be going up as well – making it all that much harder to hide the fines in new car prices.
