Mercedes-Benz US division pays $6.8M in fuel efficiency fines

Mercedes pays $6.8M in fuel efficiency fines

WASHINGTON — The government says Mercedes-Benz of North America Inc. has paid a $6.8 million fine for failing to comply with federal fuel-efficiency requirements.

Mercedes, a division of Daimler AG, paid the fines for violations dealing with imported passenger cars for the 2008 model year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collected fines from six automakers in 2009 totaling more than $13 million.

Many manufacturers of luxury vehicles consider the fuel efficiency fines as the cost of doing business. The fines were created to ensure vehicles meet basic gas mileage standards. Mercedes paid a $28.9 million fine last year.