A report in a German newspaper says that Daimler is being accused by prosecutors in Germany of selling over a million diesel cars in the US and Europe with excessive emissions.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper cited a search warrant issued by a Stuttgart court related to searches of Daimler offices carried out in May related to allegations of false advertising and the possible wrongful manipulation of exhaust gas treatment systems in diesel cars.
According to the search warrant, more than one million cars with excessive emissions, including various luxury Mercedes-Benz models, were sold in Europe and the United States between 2008 and 2016.
Reuters reported that local prosecutors are continuing their investigation and that Daimler says it is 'fully cooperating with the authorities'.
The Reuters report added that the cars affected are powered by engines codenamed OM 642 and OM 651, with prosecutors examining the possible use of defeat devices to manipulate emission levels during tests.
There is a risk that the vehicles affected in Europe could be banned in the region, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung said.