Mercedes-Benz Group — Ethics Grade C-

Mercedes-Benz Group receives an overall ethics grade of C- (41/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Automotive. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 50
• privacy: 60
• consumer: 40
• environment: 45
• humanRights: 40

Documented incidents (3)

• US Emissions Settlement (high, 2020) — Mercedes-Benz agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle allegations that it used secret software to circumvent emissions tests in approximately 250,000 diesel vans and passenger cars in the US.
• Supply Chain Labor Dispute (medium, 2023) — The company faced criticism and legal challenges regarding worker conditions and fair pay at its Mercedes-Benz South Africa production units, leading to significant industrial strikes.
• Steel Procurement Cartel (medium, 2019) — The German government fined Mercedes-Benz (then Daimler) for its participation in a cartel that coordinated prices for steel purchases for various passenger car components over many years.

Documented good deeds

• Solid-State Battery Research — Mercedes-Benz invested in Factorial Energy to develop high-safety, high-density solid-state batteries to improve EV sustainability.

Ethical alternatives

• Volvo Cars — Earlier commitment to full electrification and higher focus on safety and ethical cobalt sourcing.