Major car brands targeted by Transport for London amid claims they owe '£1billion in unpaid Ulez costs'

Transport for London has launched legal action against some of the most popular car brands in the world over claims that emissions concerns meant they avoided paying the Ulez charge.

The capital's transport authority has called for around £1billion in costs from major car brands in relation to the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

It alleges that automakers rigged emissions data, allowing motorists to enter the Ulez without needing to pay, the Financial Times reported.

Petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles need to meet the Euro 4 emissions standard, while diesel vehicles must adhere to Euro 6.

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Any vehicle that fails to meet the designated emissions standards is required to pay a daily Ulez charge of £12.50 or face a £180 fine.

The High Court heard that Transport for London made allegations of "fraud and negligence" against some of the largest auto marques in the world.

Details of the case have yet to be disclosed, the Financial Times reported, although an outline was heard at the High Court earlier this week.

Lawyers for Transport for London argue that vehicles that should pay the Ulez charge are avoiding the cost.

In turn, this impacts TfL's finances and the environmental benefits of the Ulez that have been seen in recent years.

Laurence Page, a barrister for London's transport organisation, said automakers "expressly or impliedly represented" that vehicles complied with emissions standards.

He noted that TfL was seeking a combined total of £1billion, adding: "The representations were false, made dishonestly or recklessly, alternatively negligently, and caused TfL loss."

Fresh data commissioned by TfL and the Greater London Authority found that the number of premature deaths in the capital linked to air quality fell from 6,400 to 8,000 in 2019 to between 3,800 and 5,100 in 2024.

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The research, from Imperial College London's environmental research group, identified that fine particulate pollution had fallen by 28 per cent from 2019 to 2024.

Commenting on the data, Sir Sadiq Khan said: "The bold action we have taken in London has reduced pollution, improved public health and saved lives.

"From childhood asthma to dementia, we know a wide range of illnesses are linked to air pollution.

"This latest data shows why expanding Ulez London-wide was even more important than we previously thought - and is transforming lives right across our capital."

A recent Freedom of Information request uncovered that countless global embassies owed millions of pounds to TfL for the Congestion Charge.

Between 2003 and March 31, 2025, the US Embassy racked up debts of almost £15.5million for not paying the Congestion Charge.

TfL highlighted that the Congestion Charge is a cost for a service, rather than a tax, meaning diplomats are not exempt from paying it.

Other embassies also owed millions of pounds including Japan (£10.6million), China (£10.2million), India (£9.5million) and Nigeria (£9million).

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