Brussels, 26/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - More than two months after the news of the Volkswagen scandal broke out, European vehicle owners equipped with software used to falsify polluting emissions tests, still find themselves in the dark and the only thing they are sure about at this stage is that VW does not intend to compensate them.
On Tuesday 24 November, the European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) and its members expressed their anger at the situation particularly because they have made repeated demands to Volkswagen to provide them with answers to their questions and make a commitment to entering into constructive dialogue (see EUROPE 11403).
Monique Goyens, the director general of the organisation, explained in a press release that “Consumers deserve complete and clear information on what Volkswagen will do to remedy the situation”. BEUC and its members deplore the fact that so far it is still not clear for the majority of the vehicle owners concerned, whether the national authorities will follow the example of the German automobile industry regulatory authority (KBA) and order a recall or take alternative measures and provide a date for doing so.
Two weights, two measures. European consumer organisations are “highly concerned” about statements that Volkswagen would exclude financial compensation for European consumers, as opposed to the different treatment given to US consumers who will each receive $1,000 in compensation.
Goyens indicated: “European car drivers are not second-class consumers. It would be unacceptable that financial compensation would only be offered to US customers. Damages, whether they concern the impact on the value of the cars, the cars' performance, increased fuel consumption or any aspect due to Volkswagen's misleading practices need to be compensated”. BEUC members across the EU are “working closely together and assessing all options that would ensure owners of affected vehicles are protected”.
It should be pointed out that even Volkswagen has admitted that more than 11 million cars have been implicated in the NOx and CO2 emissions, as well as around an additional 800,000 vehicles. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)