Imagine forking out almost $350,000 for a vehicle, only to be told by the seller that it was picked up by a fraudulent transport company and is now nowhere to be seen. That’s exactly what happened recently to a Mercedes-Benz dealership, and the seller – another Mercedes dealership – is refusing to give a refund.
- Base Trim Engine
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4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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9-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
The vehicle in question is a Mercedes-Benz AMG G63, the current flagship of the iconic G-Class lineup. Illinois Mercedes dealership Loeber Motors agreed to purchase a 2023 example from another Merc dealer, Mercedes-Benz of Laredo in Texas, for the sum of $347,225. That in itself is odd, as the MSRP for the updated 2025 G63 is $186,000, but we digress.
No Documentation Linked To Transport
As first reported by Automotive News, the Laredo store mailed the manufacturer’s statement of origin and title for the vehicle to Loeber after receiving a signed check, and arranged for the company Unlimited Car Carrier to handle the transport via a closed truck. However, a fraudulent transport company arrived to pick up the vehicle before Unlimited could – and was allegedly given the keys without any issues.
Loeber is now suing the Laredo store, with the dealership saying in its complaint that the Laredo store appears to have handed over possession of the vehicle to a third party without verifying the recipient’s identity. Allegedly, the general manager at the Laredo store admitted in a phone call that “we screwed up.”
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Per the complaint, the Laredo store also allegedly lacks documentation pertaining to the pickup of the vehicle. That even includes a basic copy of the recipient’s driver’s license.
It’s Not An Isolated Situation
Such instances are surprisingly common. According to Automotive News, the case of the missing G63 is one of three lawsuits filed in the past few months that involve defrauded dealerships in legal disputes with one another. Another missing Mercedes, this time a GLE-Class worth about $75,000, is the focus of one lawsuit. A missing Ferrari Roma worth $218,000 is featured in another case. In both of those circumstances, the hired transport companies used subcontractors.
Herein lies the issue: the subcontractors may not be properly vetted. In the case of the missing Ferrari, the subcontractor listed in the complaint is identified as KT Logistics, but the actual company called KT Logistics transports only dry freight, not vehicles.
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Michigan is not in Mexico.
There are efforts underway to improve the vehicle transportation process and reduce fraud. Automotive News highlighted a federal bill backed by the American Trucking Association aimed at preventing cargo theft. The bill, Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023, seeks to establish a federal response to cargo theft, whose activities often cross state and international borders.
Source: Automotive News
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