Volkswagen can appeal
The Haarlem court has ruled that Volkswagen must pay an owner of a diesel car with ‘cheating software’ compensation of €3,000. This is reported by ANP.
There are various foundations and clubs in the Netherlands that have lawsuits against car manufacturers who are accused of having applied ‘cheating software’ in their cars, smart software that was supposed to make diesel cars appear cleaner during official tests than they were in practice. The Volkswagen Group in particular became a big name in the period when the name ‘Dieselgate’ flew around in the media. The court in Haarlem has decided in a case brought by Stichting Volkswagen Group Diesel Efficiency (VGDES) and the Consumers’ Association that Volkswagen must pay compensation to an owner of a Volkswagen Golf with a diesel engine purchased in 2010. The court-calculated compensation that Volkswagen must pay to the owner amounts to €3,000.
The case brought by VGDES and the Consumers’ Association is one of four trial proceedings initiated by the foundation and the consumer association. Lawyer Jurjen Heemstra told Het Financieele Dagblad (FD) that the purpose of these proceedings was to force Volkswagen to buy back the car in question for the original purchase price, but the judge did not agree. “It is an important first step. With this ruling, other owners of cheat diesels can also claim compensation,” Lemstra told Het Financieele Dagblad.
Volkswagen believes that owners of cars with cheat diesels have not suffered any financial damage. ANP reports that Volkswagen’s lawyer has indicated that Volkswagen is considering appealing against the ruling. As early as 2021, Volkswagen was summoned by a court to pay €3,000 in damages. The manufacturer appealed against that ruling.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl