VW Emissions scam: NO compensation for owners in UK & Europe

Volkswagen has revealed it will be offering no compensation to owners of cars in the UK and Europe with illegally stated emissions. Only US owners will get a payout.

Earlier this month we revealed that Volkswagen are to give owners of cars affected by the defeat device scandal in the US and Canada an immediate financial sweetener of $1,000 to ‘regain their trust’ after they were coerced in to buying a ‘clean’ diesel that wasn’t actually all that clean.

When we ran the story we asked a simple question: “What about the UK and Europe?”. Well, now we know the answer – there will be NO financial sweeteners for owners of the 8.5 million cars in the UK or Europe which have the defeat device.

Talking to Automotive News, a VW spokesman said that VW will not be offering any compensation to owners this side of the Pond, but would “tailor a package of measure to ensure owners aren’t inconvenienced”.

VW argues only North American owners should be compensated as they were buying in to a niche market and promised a ‘Clean’ diesel, whereas buyers in the UK and Europe were buying in to a market where diesels account for half the market.

It’s a fatuous argument, and clearly has more to do with the costs of offering the same deal in Europe as in the US. Under half a million cars are affected in the US, but in Europe it’s 8.5 million. That would mean a bill of £6.5 billion just for a sweetener in Europe, and that’s before law suits, buy-backs and fines come in to play.

It seems VW has shot itself in the foot with this. There should be financial sweeteners for all owners, wherever they are.