Mercedes-Benz Group AG — Ethics Grade D+

Mercedes-Benz Group AG receives an overall ethics grade of D+ (38/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Automotive. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 35
• privacy: 55
• consumer: 30
• environment: 42
• humanRights: 30

Documented incidents (3)

• Diesel Emissions Settlement (high, 2020) — The company agreed to pay $2.2 billion to settle claims from U.S. authorities and consumers regarding the use of defeat devices meant to bypass emissions tests in diesel vehicles.
• Global Brake Failure Recall (high, 2022) — Mercedes recalled nearly 1 million older vehicles globally due to concerns that corrosion in the brake booster could lead to mechanical failure or increased stopping distance.
• Uyghur Forced Labor Allegations (high, 2020) — Reports by the ASPI identified Mercedes-Benz as a company potentially benefiting from forced labor in the Xinjiang region of China via its supply chain partners.

Documented good deeds

• Ambition 2039 — Committed to a carbon-neutral new passenger car fleet by 2039, including the transition to all-electric where market conditions allow.

Ethical alternatives

• Polestar — Leader in transparency regarding life-cycle carbon footprints of their vehicles.