Volkswagen Emissions Scandal: British owners launch legal action for compensation

Volkswagen owners in Britain affected by the Emissions Scandal are taking legal action in an attempt to get compensation. It is reported that up to 10,000 owners of Audi, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen cars are involved in the lawsuit.

It is thought that more than one million cars from the Volkswagen group were sold with the EA189 diesel engine between 2009 and 2015. And each was fitted with sophisticated NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions software, designed to artificially lower harmful gasses and cheat EU laboratory emissions tests.

The legal action accuses Volkswagen of deceiving consumers and causing damage to both people’s health and the environment by cheating strict emissions rules. The case will be heard at the High Court on 30 January. 

In October 2016 Volkswagen admitted that as few as one in 10 of affected cars had been fixed. It also said it wouldn't be giving any compensation to UK owners, despite agreeing a $15 billion settlement in the USA for buying back affected cars and paying owners an additional $5000 - $10,000 (£4000 - £8000) each.

According to The Daily Mail, the lawsuit is being driven by Harcus Sinclair for a consortium of law firms. It is reported that up to 10,000 owners are involved in the legal bid, with each seeking £3000 in compensation.

"It is only right that UK car owners affected by the scandal have the opportunity to seek compensation."

“We have paved the way for consumers who trusted but were let down by Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda to seek redress through our courts. It is only right that UK car owners affected by the scandal have the opportunity to seek compensation," said Damon Parker, head of litigation at Harcus Sinclair.

“We have secured funding so that those affected can bring this claim against Volkswagen at no cost to themselves. The group action aims to ensure that, if Volkswagen is found to have misled consumers about the environmental damage caused by their cars, they are penalised accordingly so as to discourage this sort of behaviour from happening again,” added Parker. 

The UK Transport Committee pledged in the autumn of 2016 to fight for compensation for owners of affected Volkswagen group cars, but little has happened since then. 

The European Commission has criticised Britain for not doing enough in the wake of the Emissions Scandal. It has also accused the UK government for refusing to share details of its investigation into the cheat device used by Volkswagen to artificially lower NOx gases when under test conditions.

Read all the latest news on the emissions scandal