VW Emissions Scandal - The USA have settled but what next for worldwide consumers?

In a victory for consumers in the US, VW has today agreed to compensate American owners of VW cars that were fitted with the diesel emissions ‘defeat device’ by up to $10,000 each.

The deal includes an offer to buyback affected cars and pay compensation to the owners of affected cars. In addition VW has agreed to pay $2.7 billion to a USA government fund in compensation for the environmental impact that the cars have had and $2 billion to support cleaner-vehicle projects.

This deal is currently only available for US consumers, VW are not offering anything to more than ten million owners of their diesel cars who live in other countries around the world.

Consumers International members have been involved in a range of actions to get VW to pay compensation to consumers who bought the affected cars. But VW has repeatedly refused to respond to their calls.

A number of Consumers International's European members have launched legal action against VW in their countries, including Altroconsumo (Italy), Test-Achats (Belgium) and OCU (Spain). BEUC, the European Consumers Organisation, is also working with its members to consider next steps.

Consumers International will be supporting its members across the globe to ensure consumers who have been affected by the emissions scandal are treated fairly.

You can read more about the deal on VW’s website.