‘Dutch government ignores settlement of diesel scandal’

Various car manufacturers have been dogged by lawsuits for years because of cheating with the emissions of diesel cars. Nevertheless, this has not yet led to compensation or fines in the Netherlands, says Peter Goes. He has the impression that manufacturers are trying to delay the legal process with all kinds of ‘formal skirmishes’. It strikes Goes that, unlike what happened in the US, the government hardly makes itself heard here. According to Goes, this is special, because car manufacturers in the United States have long since settled for their role in the diesel scandal, which first came to light at Volkswagen in 2015.

According to Goes, the government itself has an interest in being on top of it: “The diesels involved include thousands of government cars, such as police cars and ambulances,” he emphasizes. “The government should therefore also report for compensation. But I have not seen them.” The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management did file a complaint against Fiat Chrysler last year because of cheating software in diesel engines. “But we haven’t heard anything about that since,” says Goes.

Goes’ claims foundation is one of three foundations that try to arrange financial compensation for owners of cars with a ‘cheat engine’. So far without success. The Car Claim Foundation, which works together with the Consumers’ Association, managed to convince a Dutch court last year that buyers of Volkswagen cheat diesels are entitled to compensation. Volkswagen, however, appealed because, according to the company, motorists suffered no financial loss at all due to the fact that their cars emit more than reported.