The Pan NOx PDD trials have been in the High Court for over a month. Please find below an update on week 6 of the trial, which is considered to be one of the most significant and complex trials ever heard in the UK’s history and will shape the future of Class Action Group Claims and Consumer Law in England and Wales.
Week 6 (10-15 November 2025)
The Claimant’s Counsel cross examined Ford’s calibration manager. The cross examination focused on Ford’s internal training on defeat device and compliance culture.
The Claimant’s Counsel further questioned the Defendant’s expert on the DeSOX defect, despite having clear evidence of the defect the Defendant’s expert insisted that the calibration was not defective.
The Defendant’s expert confirmed their awareness on the DeSOx issues compromising the joint testing programme.
Some of the technical points on the EGR range and Rule 14LNT purge and its impact on RDE testing were discussed in more depth.
The cross examination further shaped on discussing EGR and LNT modulation with speed, torque, temperature, pressure, and the need to require trade offs between NOx, PM, fuel economy, durability and component life in Ford’s calibration. The Defendant’s expert provided this should be characterised as routine engineering judgment rather than defeat strategies.
The Defendant’s expert accepted some shortcomings with the testing programme and indicated that the data produced from the testing programme could still be helpful in drawing conclusions.
The cross examination further expanded by challenging the Defendant’s expert report on points such as SCR, dual loop EGR, and alternative calibration strategies.
The Defendant’s software expert accepted that their description of Rule 14 in the report was incorrect.
Overall, the evidence from the Defendant’s experts and the cross examination by the Claimant’s Counsels shaped well. The judge liked the views from the witnesses that Ford could have done better but chose not to. Helpful concessions were made from the Defendant’s software expert evidence.
The next week will be focusing on the evidence from the Defendant’s engineering expert and important findings in drawing a final conclusion and closing submissions.
We at Johnson Law Group aim to provide regular updates and highlights of the Pan NOx PDD trials and will continuously share the key findings and the conclusion from the trial.
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