The Consumer Dispute Settlement Commission has decided to open mediation proceedings on a class dispute settlement application involving Mercedes-Benz Korea, the commission said Wednesday.
The dispute settlement follows damages claims that consumers had earlier filed against Mercedes-Benz Korea. A group of 53 consumers sought damages over the company's sale of EQE vehicles, which Mercedes-Benz Korea officially imported and sold from June 2023, describing the cars as being fitted with CATL battery cells when they were actually equipped with Farasis battery cells.
After review, the commission determined that the requirements for opening class dispute settlement proceedings had been met, as the number of consumers harmed by the sale of the vehicles in this case was 50 or more, and the key issues in the case were substantially or legally identical.
Following the decision to open the proceedings, the commission plans to announce the matter for at least 14 days through the Korea Consumer Agency's website and daily newspapers, receive additional applications from consumers to participate, and complete a settlement decision within the period stipulated in Article 68, Paragraph 7 of the Framework Act on Consumers.
Those eligible for the dispute settlement are consumers who purchased vehicles through Mercedes-Benz Korea dealers between June 8, 2023, and August 12, 2024, after being informed that CATL products were installed. The commission said, "During the participation application announcement period, consumers may participate in the settlement proceedings through the Korea Consumer Agency's website by preparing the relevant documents, such as contracts."
