Automaker goes to court to recover millionaire loss after luxury car disappears during interstate delivery
Mercedes-Benz of Manhattan has launched a legal battle against four logistics companies after the disappearance of a brand-new Mercedes-AMG G 63 during transport across the US. The vehicle, valued at US$ 584,000 (approximately R$ 3.4 million at the current exchange rate), never reached the buyer, William Costa, turning a luxury transaction into a legal imbroglio that exposes the fragility of subcontracting chains.
The lawsuit filed by the dealership points out that the SUV should have been delivered in Nevada, but its whereabouts were lost along the way, evidencing serious flaws in the custody of the jeep.
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The incident sheds light on the risks of excessive outsourcing in the transportation of valuable cargo. According to the records, the customer hired Carpool Logistics, which in turn subcontracted the service to a second company, which passed it on to a third, until it reached a fourth carrier. This logistical “wireless phone” resulted in the total loss of control over the location of the cargo.
In January 2026, the vehicle was last seen being abandoned on the side of a road in Los Angeles — far from its final destination — after an alleged cash payment made during an irregular delivery stage. Since then, the car’s whereabouts have been unknown.
Mercedes bases the lawsuit on the Carmack Amendment, a U.S. legislation that regulates the liability of carriers in interstate freight. The prosecution maintains that all links in the chain failed to guarantee the integrity of the assets. The companies cited, however, deny direct responsibility or blame the subcontractors.
Lawyers for the automaker point out that the evidence production phase will be decisive to clarify whether the disappearance was the result of operational incompetence or a theft scheme facilitated by breaches in the logistics system. The concessionaire seeks full compensation for the loss.
