VW agrees multi billion dollar settlement in USA but continues to snub Scottish consumers
Leading Lawyer slams the car giant for treating Scottish and European customers with contempt.
Patrick McGuire, a partner with Thompsons Solicitors and Scotland’s leading mass litigation lawyer, has condemned car giants VW and their treatment of Scottish customers. Thousands of Scottish car owners who bought VW cars and other related makes such as Skoda and Audi discovered they had been victims of a deliberate fraud by VW who used sophisticated software to cheat exhaust emissions tests.
Mr McGuire spoke out as it emerged that a federal judge in the United States has awarded consumers there a near $15 billion dollar settlement to compensate them for the cost of having their cars modified to make them road legal again. It’s also been reported in the US that customers could receive an addition $10,000 dollars each by way of further compensation. It is the largest known civil settlement involving a carmaker in US legal history.
So far VW has steadfastly refused to even consider compensating European customers in a similar way despite the fraud causing huge depreciation in the value of cars involved.
Commenting on the latest developments in The United States, Patrick McGuire, who represents hundreds of Scottish VW owners, said “This is obviously very good news for American consumers who are now going to be fully compensated after being cheated by this very well-known and until recently trusted car manufacturer. However this stands in stark contrast to VW’s attitude to Scottish consumers who fell victim to their scam. Their response here has been to hire some of the most expensive corporate lawyers the City of London can provide and basically tell consumers to take a hike.”
“So we have a situation here where Hinrich Woebcken, president and chief executive of Volkswagen America, said this week that the settlement was “an important milestone in our journey to making things right”. But in Europe people are just expected to keep quiet and go away. “Well I can tell VW right now that is simply not going to happen. My firm is currently working with lawyers in the Republic of Ireland, Germany and other European nations to present a continent wide fight for justice for these consumers. We are very confident of success and will be holding a meeting in Brussels soon to discuss our next move.” “I also think it’s incumbent on the transport select committee at Westminster to take another look at this issue. I would urge them to convene another evidence session with VW executives so they can explain why UK consumers are not worthy of compensation but US customers are. The select committee has the power to compel these aloof executives to explain their actions.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
The settlement in America was reached with the U.S. Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, the state of California and vehicle owners who had filed a class action lawsuit against VW. Volkswagen has admitted to misleading regulators and still faces an ongoing criminal investigation. U.S. Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco signed off on VW's settlement with federal and California regulators and the owners of the 475,000 polluting diesel vehicles.
Since news of the fraud first broke in the UK Thompsons have taken enquires from hundreds of VW and Audi owners. We currently represent over 400 car owners as part of a mass litigation against VW. Thompsons are one of a very few Scottish Law firms who have the ability to deal with such a large number of cases going through the Scottish Courts.
For further information or to request a broadcast interview with Patrick McGuire please call Peter Henderson on 07887 687 318
Vehicles with Type EA 189 diesel engines, built between 2009 and 2015, were fitted with the device, though there are suggestions that vehicles dating back to 2007 could be affected.
The specific brands and numbers involved are: (UK wide figures)
- Skoda: 131,569
- Audi: 393,450
- Volkswagen cars: 508,276
- Seat: 76,773
- VW commercial vehicles: 79,838
It has been announced that the following models were fitted with the device (excluding 2015 models with Euro 6 engines):
- VW: Golf (2009-2015), Beetle (2009-2015), Jetta (2009-2015), Passat (2014,2015)
- Audi: A1, A3 (2009-2015), A4, A5, A6, TT, Q3, Q5
It is also possible that the following vehicles could be affected:
- Skoda: Octavia, Fabia, Rapid, Roomster, Superb, Yeti
- Seat: Leon, Ibiza, Toledo, Alhambra, Altea, Exeo, Toledo
