Automakers Face New Legal Challenge in ‘Dieselgate‘ Emissions scandal
BRUSSELS – A court case involving five automakers has begun in Brussels, reigniting legal battles stemming from the “Dieselgate” emissions scandal. The suit alleges that the companies deliberately designed systems to circumvent air purity laws, possibly impacting millions of car owners across Europe.
The core of the case centers on accusations that the automakers’ diesel vehicles were equipped with software capable of recognizing when undergoing emissions testing. During testing, the engines operated at reduced power, resulting in artificially lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions readings than those achieved during real-world driving conditions. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs will argue that car owners were misled about the environmental performance of their vehicles and that thes cars continue to release harmful pollutants.
The original “Dieselgate” scandal erupted in 2015 when it was revealed that Volkswagen had installed defeat devices in it’s diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. In 2020, a British court ruled Volkswagen had violated European Union rules, leading to a £193 million (approximately CZK 5.4 billion) settlement paid to roughly 91,000 car owners in the UK. globally,volkswagen has already paid over 32 billion euros (CZK 778.6 billion) in fines and settlements,primarily in the United States.
A judgment in the current case is not expected before the summer of 2025. Should the court rule against the automakers, a separate process to determine the amount of compensation owed to affected vehicle owners will commence in autumn 2026.
