It’s amazing how VW can appear to use deflective techniques in an attempt to move on from the emissions scandal while refusing their customers – i.e. the victims – their right to compensation. With their new electric vehicles project and the settlement agreement in the U.S., it seems as if VW believe they are recovering well from the scandal.
But this is far from the truth, as the company continues to fend off legal proceedings in multiple jurisdictions, and we won’t be backing down!
VW’s situation
Just days after the $15 billion U.S. settlement, VW held a launch party for their new Atlas SUV. This might be in the hope that it will resuscitate its finances after declining sales in the U.S. market, and declining market share, as well as the expensive and ongoing litigation from around the world. Sales in October this year reportedly fell by 18.46% when compared with the same period last year.
I speculate that the emissions scandal has a lot to do with it.
Widespread disappointment
Since then, vehicle owners have felt cheated, disappointed, and described VW’s reactions as “totally unacceptable” amongst many other negative phrases.
This has a lot to do with the way VW has handled the compensation matter in our view. They have allowed U.S. victims remedial action, but declined to make the same sort of offer for their U.K. victims.
In fact, they’re refusing U.K. victims compensation, which has really angered our clients. We currently act for thousands of clients here as we continue our High Court of Justice battle.
SUV’s launch party
The launch party was a far thing from the dark emission scandal cloud hanging over their heads. There were photo booths, caricature artists, and all sorts of things you would expect from a normal party.
Executives were reportedly flown from around the world to attend the party as well. Their lavish actions begs the question: if they can afford to splash out on such a party, why have they not adequately compensated the rest of their victims? I know the costs differences will be huge, but it’s more about the moral factor. If the company really wanted to show their customers that they are ‘turning over a new leaf’, they would have shown genuine remorse through their actions i.e. compensate for the harm they have caused.
It really is simple in our view.
European claims
VW may continue to try to bury the past, but it’s not long before it will be dragged back up again when legal proceedings – both from dealerships and individuals – will no doubt continue to be brought against the German automotive giants. The settlement offer in the U.S. may have taken some of the pressure off them, but it has just added fuel to the fire for affected European vehicle owners who are being refused their right to compensation.
Recently, Spanish courts ruled in favour of a buyer, granting a 5,000 Euro payout on top of a vehicle repair. Of course, we welcome the Spanish courts’ ruling, and we continue to fight for the same justice here in the U.K.
It’s no use for VW to try to hide the scandal. It’s just a matter of time before the ‘big show’ and novelty wears off. When that time comes, VW will no doubt feel the effects of a hangover; like you usually do after a huge party. If they think that a party will cover up their scandalous behaviour, they thought wrong. Private and group legal actions are becoming the trend in Europe, and VW should be cautious as there are no signs of the scandal cooling down.
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