Volkswagen to Reimburse Over 100,000 Dutch Customers in ‘Dieselgate‘ Settlement
Teh Hague, netherlands - Volkswagen will compensate more than 100,000 Dutch drivers affected by the “Dieselgate” emissions scandal, concluding a years-long legal battle and delivering a significant victory for consumer rights.The settlement, finalized this week, resolves claims stemming from the automaker’s deliberate use of defeat devices to cheat on emissions tests.
The agreement provides financial redress to owners of vehicles equipped with manipulated diesel engines, marking a considerable outcome in one of the largest automotive fraud cases in history.While individual payouts vary, the collective sum represents a major step toward accountability for Volkswagen and offers closure to Dutch consumers who purchased vehicles under false pretenses. The Consumentenbond (Consumers’ Association) initiated a landmark proefproces (test case) that paved the way for this broader settlement.
In April 2023, a Dutch court initially ruled in favor of plaintiff Paul, ordering Volkswagen to pay him €3,000 for unfair commercial practices and violations of EU nitrogen oxide emission regulations. Volkswagen appealed that decision, but the current settlement renders that appeal moot. “I was cheated,” Paul stated regarding his involvement in the initial case. “It’s about the principle. I’m not doing this for the money; I’m doing it for all the other people affected.”
The Consumentenbond views the settlement as a warning to the entire automotive industry. “We hope that other manufacturers who cheated will follow suit and realize that it is better to settle than to engage in years of legal proceedings,” said spokesperson Donat. “we will continue to advocate for those who have been harmed.”
despite the ordeal, one claimant, Polo driver paul, remains a Volkswagen customer. “Volkswagen simply makes good cars,” he explained. “It was just the people there who cheated.” He plans to replace his aging polo with a new, fully electric Volkswagen, citing environmental concerns as his original motivation for purchasing a diesel vehicle – a promise he feels was broken.