Diesel scandal: find out the amount that Volkswagen is about to compensate for its affected customers

Ah, Volkswagen and its little arrangements with the truth… Eight years after holding the automotive world hostage with their famous Dieselgate, the German manufacturer has finally decided to ease up a bit. Yes, you heard that right: after years of pretending to play innocent, Volkswagen, accompanied by its companions Audi, Škoda, SEAT, and, to top it off, Porsche, has just agreed to compensation for millions of customers who discovered that their "clean" engine was just a subtle technological lie. Just imagine: those beasts packed with their infamous EA 189 diesel engine, loaded with software that cheats so well it could pass for a Netflix series... Compensation? Yes, but don’t expect to regain your honor or your trust, just a few euros in return to soothe the minds. Meanwhile, in one corner of the ring, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Peugeot, Citroën watch on, undoubtedly a bit satisfied not to have been caught, but also worried about what this portends for their own potential deceptions. So, how much will Volkswagen actually cough up for these wronged customers? We’ll tell you everything.

Volkswagen: a scandal that costs a lot, but not too much

For those who were dreaming of a financial tsunami, hold on: the amount announced by Volkswagen to compensate the affected Belgian consumers is a modest 5% of the purchase price of the vehicle, or 5% of the difference between the purchase price and resale price if they have already sold their car. Not exactly the jackpot that would make the dieselgate melt away like snow in the sun, but better than nothing, let’s agree. This judgment, rendered on July 27, 2023 by the Belgian court, concerns EA 189 engines stuffed with the infamous manipulation software. The decision applies both to the collective action led by Testachats and to grouped individual complaints.

Ah, and don’t get me wrong, it’s not just Volkswagen scratching its head: Audi, Škoda, SEAT – all under the aegis of the VW group – have played in the same court of great cheaters. It’s a bit like discovering that all your neighbors were organizing the same illegal party without inviting you. And while Porsche, another subsidiary of the German giant, gazes without daring to get too excited at the flashy electric promotions, others like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, still perched on their thrones, wonder if they too will soon feel the pressure.

Testachats and Volkswagen: a judicial adrenaline rush comes to an end

After years of a tug-of-war between the Belgian consumer protection association Testachats and Volkswagen AG, the talks are finally coming to an end. The two sides have discussed at length. And surprise: they’ve chosen not to go for an appeal. Perhaps Volkswagen has gotten tired of the judicial ping-pong, or maybe Testachats has finally gathered enough crickets to complete their day.

A dedicated platform on Testachats' website will now allow affected consumers to submit their compensation requests. And because we don’t mess around with peace of mind, a hotline has even been set up, with very specific opening hours – paradoxically more scheduled than the sound of a Porsche in full acceleration: Monday to Thursday from 9 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1 PM to 5 PM, with Fridays closing simply at 4 PM. Should we see it as a joke about the "off" hours of a cash machine like Volkswagen? Probably…

Looking back: the dieselgate and the flip side for the automotive industry

So, eight years later, what have we learned? That cheating on emissions is a bit like trying to hide an oil leak on the exhaust line with tape: it can hold for a while, but it will eventually show. Dieselgate has thrown a nasty stone into the pond for Volkswagen, but also, secondarily, for an entire industry that is starting to look at its past by the fire, in front of a good eco-friendly (or not) whiskey. Porsche, Audi, Škoda, SEAT, VW, all have been caught up by their thermal sin of pride. Meanwhile, French brands like Renault, Peugeot, and Citroën, along with the German giants Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are trying as best as they can to ride the electric revolution without completely discarding their past.

As for the owners of the EA 189 engines, these road warriors, they can now feel a bit of this unusual balance where one finally recognizes the wrong. But one thing is for sure: in this fight against cheating, the 5% compensation will not bring back trust, it will not fix the cars, nor the dreams of those who believed in the "clean" driving Germany. They will just provide a final note to what resembles a bad episode of automotive reality TV.

Source: www.dhnet.be

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