Dieselgate: What Is That?
Dieselgate is the biggest industrial scandal in Europe since the Second World War. Millions of car buyers and the authorities were systematically deceived about the supposed environmental friendliness of diesel engines. In order to maximize profits and remain competitive, the manufacturers systematically implemented so-called defeat devices in the engine's exhaust gas purification system. As a result, diesel vehicles emit up to ten times more exhaust gases than required by law.
Immediate health hazards for local residents
VW in particular came to prominence in the scandal when it admitted to US environmental authorities at the end of October 2015 that it had implemented impermissible defeat devices in its diesel vehicles. However, the scope of the scandal goes much further and includes almost all major automakers. The air pollution triggered by dirty diesel has a direct impact on the health of citizens, especially in areas with busy roads.
"Air pollution causes acute and chronic diseases such as cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and leads to premature death."
Professor Dr. Nino Künzli, President of the Federal Commission for Air Hygiene of the Swiss Federal Council.
In Germany alone, up to 6,000 deaths per year are attributable to nitrogen dioxide emitted by diesel engines. A large number of these are directly related to diesel engines with inadmissible defeat devices. The emissions are also a major contributor to increased greenhouse gases and climate change.
Systematic misleading of the approval authorities
This was made possible by the systematic deception of the registration authorities. In order for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine to be approved for the European market, the vehicle must comply with European environmental regulations. To check this, the authorities test the vehicle. The defeat devices used by the manufacturers ensured that the exhaust gas aftertreatment in the engine functioned during the tests, but switched it off again during normal driving so that the engine would not wear out unnecessarily and diesel consumption would not increase.
Fines in the billions and prison sentences for managers
After U.S. environmental authorities uncovered this practice at the end of 2015, automakers in the U.S. paid around $18 billion in fines and took back all diesel vehicles in exchange for generous compensation. In addition, numerous top managers ended up in prison for fraud. In Europe, on the other hand, politicians protect the carmakers and thereby approve the fraudulent and health-harming behavior of the auto industry. The fines are remarkably low. Moreover, the relevant authorities often look the other way.
Decrease in value and risk of decommissioning of Dieselcars
Buyers of a diesel vehicle now have a ticking time bomb in their garage. This comes as buyers of diesel vehicles with such defeat devices are increasingly exposed to the risk that their vehicle will be decommissioned by the authorities. On the other hand, prices for vehicles with such defeat devices have already dropped dramatically on the used car market. So, while buyers in the U.S. have been generously compensated, consumers in Europe are left sitting on their losses without further action.
Claim for damages
If you have a vehicle that is affected by Dieselgate, you are entitled to compensation!
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