Nearly a decade after Volkswagen’s emissions cheating came to light, four of the company’s former managers have now been found guilty of fraud in a German court. It’s a landmark moment. And proof that accountability can take time, but it does arrive.
The court in Braunschweig handed out prison sentences to two senior ex-employees for their part in the diesel deception, while two others were given suspended sentences.
The takeaway? Misleading the public and contributing to environmental harm has consequences.
What is the emissions scandal all about?
These verdicts come long after regulators blew the whistle in 2015, uncovering software installed in VW diesel vehicles designed to cheat emissions tests. The software could detect when a vehicle was undergoing emissions testing and tweak its performance to deliver cleaner results.
British researchers then found that more manufacturers were emitting high levels of toxic fumes. In some cases, the noxious emissions were up to seven times the legal limit. Dieselgate allegations have since been made against several other leading car brands including (but not limited to):
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Mercedes
- Renault Nissan
- Ford
- BMW
- And more
The extent and severity of the allegations vary, and not all manufacturers have admitted to or been found guilty of emissions cheating. Nevertheless, dieselgate is one of the largest corporate scandals in history.
What this means for diesel car emissions claims in the UK
While the headlines may be coming out of Germany, the scandal hit drivers here in the UK too. If you bought or leased a diesel car between 2009 and 2020, there’s a real chance your vehicle was affected, and you could be entitled to compensation.
Thousands of drivers have already joined emissions claims here in the UK, holding manufacturers accountable for selling cars that weren’t as clean as promised. In dieselgate cases involving Volkswagen, UK claimants received payouts averaging £2,120. Owners of other car manufacturers could be next.
These German convictions prove that key Volkswagen managers played a role in the emissions deception. That matters. And if it’s proven that other car bosses were involved too, it potentially strengthens the case for more UK drivers to get justice.
Time to take action: Claim dieselgate UK compensation
If you’re wondering whether your car was affected, don’t sit on it. We’re here to help you check if you qualify and connect you with expert UK law firms ready to act.
