Prosecutors in Paris have requested that Volkswagen face trial in France for its role in the Dieselgate emissions scandal, seeking compensation for French consumers. This comes from a court filing obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to installing software in 11 million vehicles that allowed the cars to pass emissions tests by lowering their emissions during testing. This scandal became one of the largest to impact the auto industry.
In addition to ongoing lawsuits in the United States and other countries, French prosecutors are now pressing charges of aggravated fraud against the company. Volkswagen has contested the charges, arguing it should not be tried in France.
Prosecutors’ court filing, dated late February, revealed that nearly one million French customers had to pay for repairs and servicing after the emissions scandal broke. They also referred to a 2021 expert report, which found that Volkswagen used the test-cheating software as part of a “cost-benefit” strategy, approved by the company’s management.
The prosecutors highlighted the significant health risks caused by the nitrogen dioxide emissions, which were misrepresented by Volkswagen, as an aggravating factor.
Volkswagen responded to AFP, denying the accusations of aggravated fraud. The company argued that French consumers did not suffer harm significant enough to warrant compensation. Volkswagen also pointed out that a court case in Germany had already concluded in 2018, where the company paid over one billion euros ($1 billion) in compensation.
The company emphasized that a double conviction on the same charges is prohibited under the law. However, Paris prosecutors argued that the French charges are “complementary” to the German case, focusing specifically on consumers’ rights in France.
