Published on October 2, 2024, 09:40 / ©Montage: Canva
An agreement was reached in the diesel scandal.
An agreement was reached in the diesel scandal.
The diesel scandal has been making headlines for years. For some of those affected, it is now time to breathe a sigh of relief: they will receive compensation.
by Sabrina Tischler
1 minute reading time (245 words)
The scandal became known in 2015. In particular, vehicles with the EA189 diesel engine from Volkswagen (VW) moved forward in the course of the Diesel scandals in the center. This engine was installed in numerous vehicles of different brands. More on this in: Diesel scandal: Is your car also on the list? The trigger was engine control software that caused manipulated emissions values.
Solution achieved in the diesel scandal
In 2018 this also finally happened Association for Consumer Information (VKI) – on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs (BMSGPK) and the Federal Chamber of Labor (BAK) – and launched a class action lawsuit. The VKI was of the opinion that those affected had paid too much for their vehicle against this background. Years of litigation followed and finally there is a solution! An agreement was reached out of court.
How do I get my money?
The participants in the class action lawsuit, i.e. those affected by the diesel scandal, are to be paid a sum of 23 million euros. The VKI is responsible for processing the agreement. The affected participants will be informed directly by the VKI about the individual result and further processing. Specifically, 10,000 affected people should receive an average of 2,300 euros in compensation. The exact amount depends on the price of the vehicle.
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Class action lawsuits since 2018
The VKI represents in 16 proceedings at all 16 regional courts in Austria. “We are extremely pleased that solutions have been reached for the class action lawsuits on the EA 189 issue that have been pending since 2018 and that these proceedings have now been positively concluded,” commented Stefan SchreinerHead of the Actions Department at VKI, the agreement reached.
Frequently asked questions
What is the diesel scandal about?
The diesel scandal started with the Volkswagen Group and was exposed in September 2015: In diesel cars with the EA 189 engine, the exhaust gas purification only worked on the test bench and was switched off under normal road conditions (“VW switchover mode”). According to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), this violates EU regulations. Over time, the diesel scandal spread to almost all diesel car manufacturers, such as Mercedes, Opel, Renault, Fiat and BMW. These also had built-in switch-off devices.
What happens with the shutdown device?
This means that the exhaust gas purification only works at outside temperatures between 15 and 33 degrees, within the so-called “thermal window”. According to the ECJ, such “thermal windows” are not permitted if the exhaust gas purification system remains switched off most of the year. The Supreme Court in Austria agreed with this ECJ ruling.
Is my car affected by the diesel scandal?
You can find a list of the affected cars here. This is continually updated.
How do I get my money?
Participants in the class action lawsuit are from VKI directly about your individual result and the further processing informed. The Total of 23 million euros will be divided among the affected vehicle owners represented in the lawsuit.
