Bosch sues Dyson over vacuum cleaner claims

The German company claimed allegations that its cleaners cheated EU energy efficiency tests as 'unfounded and untrue' and said the British firm’s founder, Sir James Dyson, had 'overstepped the mark'

The bitter feud between two vacuum cleaner rivals has been reignited as Bosch said it was taking rival Dyson to court over allegations its cleaners cheated EU energy efficiency tests.

The German company denied the allegations as “unfounded and untrue” and said the British firm’s founder, Sir James Dyson, had “overstepped the mark” by claiming sensors built in to its vacuum cleaners help them pass power restriction tests.

Likening it to the Volkswagen emissions testing scandal, Sir James had said Bosch and Siemens vacuum cleaners used more power in everyday use than in laboratory tests.

Karsten Ottenberg, the chief executive of Bosch’s home appliances unit BSH, which also makes Siemens products, said: “We have long since been aware that James Dyson has a history of taking a very aggressive approach against his competitors and has a desire to be in the public eye.”

EU rules introduced last year mean makers are not allowed to sell cleaners with motors exceeding 1,600 watts.

Dyson launched legal action last week against the German home appliances group as part of its claims.

It argued that despite initially denying the allegations, Bosch had in effect admitted to using sensors which increase the power of its vacuums outside laboratory conditions.

Sir James said: “What Bosch and Siemens have done, we believe circumvents the purpose of the EU energy regulations and misleads consumers.”