The automotive industry is one of the most significant ones. Just think about it, it provides the solution for a wide array of different activities both individuals and businesses have. You cannot conduct any sort of transportation without having an appropriate vehicle. Without vehicles transportation is impossible.
Since the products and services provided by companies who work in this industry are so essential for so many things, the reputation of those companies should be spotless. Sadly, this is not what happens in some situations. We’ve all heard about scandals caused by famous companies like Toyota and General Motors.
However, the best-known scandal occurred back in 2008 when renowned German company Volkswagen has been caught cheating on diesel emission tests. We are talking about a scandal that lasted for a couple of years, and it still has a big influence on the whole industry in this day and age. Customers are still seeking some sort of compensation through making diesel emissions claims.
What Happened?
Source: theguardian.com
A couple of years before the scandal, many car manufacturers promoted the concept of “clean diesel”. The need for this concept arose alongside the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles. For some time, nobody noticed that there was anything wrong with their vehicles and their characteristics.
However, after several tests have been run, it was clear that the diesel emission was, not only on the same level as before this concept was introduced, but it was much higher than that. The scales of this problem weren’t obvious at first. The problem occurred in more than 11 million diesel cars from all over the globe. Half a million of these were in the US.
As a result of this happening, roughly eight million customers sought some sort of compensation. In the end, it was settled that those customers who see these problems with their vehicles can make diesel emissions claims, as we’ve mentioned earlier. As of 2024, these claims amount to billions of US dollars.
Cheat Mode
Among the main elements of this scandal was the fact that those vehicles had two options in which they could operate, “dyno” and “on-road”. Both of these options had the task of enhancing fuel efficiency, and performance and lowering toxic chemicals released from the vehicles themselves.
After tests, it was seen that these two options don’t work properly, especially when it comes to the control of gas emissions. The levels of these chemicals were much higher than was allowed by the laws. Therefore, nobody should be surprised that this cheat mode was one of the main triggers for the scandal.
Important Things to Know About Diesel Emissions Claims
Now, let’s take a look at some important things about this procedure.
1. Am I Eligible?
Source: umweltbundesamt.de
Of course, those who were affected by this scandal can seek some sort of compensation by making this claim. Another thing to take into consideration is the time when you’ve purchased the vehicle. The scandal lasted between 2007 and 2018, so every vehicle produced within this timeframe falls under the category.
It doesn’t matter if you are a first or second owner, you can make a claim. At the same time, the method you used to purchase the vehicle also doesn’t play a vital role. We are talking about purchasing the vehicle outright or through a lease. What’s more, you can do it even when you are not an owner anymore.
When it comes to the brand of vehicles, the list is pretty long. We’re going to name just a few of them. We are talking about Land Rover, BMW, Renault, Jaguar, etc. There’s no definite answer on how high this compensation can be since it depends on numerous factors, but some sums are known.
2. How Long This Procedure Can Last?
After you submit this claim, you will need to wait for up to a month before you get a response. Naturally, it can last longer than that, if the number of claims made at that time is higher than usual. The decision on what they will do depends on whether they are willing to go to court or not.
Of course, their decision depends on the case a customer makes. If they see that winning this sort of case is not possible, they will want to settle as soon as possible, without going to court. Some of these cases have lasted for more than five years. So, many customers should arm themselves with patience.
3. How Much Can You Claim?
Source: leighday.co.uk
We’ve mentioned that there’s no definite answer on how much money customers can expect in compensation. But from the cases that have occurred, we can see that this range can between $150 and $15,000 for a vehicle. Naturally, the owners of expensive vehicles can much higher compensation.
Those who are interested in conducting additional changes to make their vehicle compatible with all the standards can ask for this. When that happens, the compensation can get significantly higher. Basically, it all depends on the vehicle itself and additional options the owner might seek to include.
4. When’s the Deadline?
It needs to be said that the deadline for making these claims is not the same for every brand. For instance, the deadline for Volkswagen’s vehicles has passed on the 31st of December 2024. So, these owners cannot make any sort of claims since the case was settled in court. However, it is possible to do it for other brands.
Those who own a BMW, Ford, or Mercedes, still have a chance to do it. Still, we want to emphasize that making this claim should be done as soon as possible. Otherwise, the deadline could pass. If you want to do it, and you don’t know where to do it, be sure to visit emissions.co.uk.
In Conclusion
As you can see, this scandal has led to serious financial losses for Volkswagen. We can even see that these losses are not the end of it, at least for some other brands. Here, you can take a look at all relevant information regarding diesel emissions claims. We’re sure you will find them useful.
