VW's bizarre 'mea culpa' to car buyers: German giant says CO2 figures are probably wrong and offers to buy back vehicles
- Car-maker already bracing itself for thousands of compensation claims
- The 'mea culpa' is contained in a waiver document given to customers
- One person waiting for Audi A1 Sportback was told figures are inaccurate
Volkswagen has issued a bizarre apology to customers about to take delivery of a new car, admitting its own CO2 and fuel-consumption figures are wrong but failing to say how the situation can be rectified.
It comes as the German car-maker braces itself for thousands of compensation claims from angry motorists whose vehicles have fallen in value as a result of the emissions-cheating scandal.
The ‘mea culpa’ is contained in a waiver document which VW has told dealerships to give to customers when the vehicle is handed over. It follows the revelation that the falsification of test results affects more models than first thought.
Volkswagen has issued a bizarre apology to customers about to take delivery of an Audi A1 (pictured), admitting its own CO2 and fuel-consumption figures are wrong but failing to say how the situation can be rectified
In September, American investigators discovered that software designed to cheat tests for nitrogen oxide emissions had been fitted to 11 million diesel engines. But this month the crisis deepened after it emerged the company had understated carbon dioxide and miles-per-gallon figures on a further 800,000 petrol and diesel vehicles currently on sale, including other VW brands such as Audi, SEAT and Skoda.
One customer waiting to take delivery of a £17,000 Audi A1 Sportback in South London last week was told that the fuel economy and emission rates in the handbook and promotional material were inaccurate, despite the fact the vehicle had only just rolled off the production line.
When the customer asked about resale value, he received a letter from Volkswagen, saying: ‘The current CO2 and consumption values for this model are under review and may change. To the extent that CO2 values and fuel consumption are relevant for the purposes of tax, this increase might affect the amount of tax that is payable. The VW Group has informed the relevant government authorities of this issue.’
Vehicle excise duty is partly based on CO2 emission rates. If they were artificially lowered, the vehicles will not have contributed enough tax, leaving Volkswagen facing demands to repay billions of pounds, as well as compensation to motorists whose cars have fallen in value.
Last night a solicitor representing 10,000 potential claimants said anyone who bought an affected model in the past 30 days should demand a refund if the vehicle did not match the manufacturer’s description. Bozena Michalowska-Howells said: ‘It could be argued that the VW Group, by understating the CO2 emissions and claiming that the cars were environmentally friendly, have mis-sold their vehicles.’
Volkswagen UK said it could not comment ‘since our responses need to pass through’ the company’s German headquarters.
Most watched News videos
- Paralysed DJ receives therapy before ending his life
- Moment millionaire son killed himself and three other people
- Flexible seductive dancer stuns judges on Romania's Got Talent
- Despicable moment when a mother brutally kicks her own baby
- Most boring video goes viral for two very obvious reasons
- German hostage says in video he will be killed if ransom isn't paid
- Cute cat mumbles to himself while looking at birds from window
- Reckless biker group confronted by undercover police
- Hollande reacts as 'gun shot' goes off during his speech
- Jimmy Kimmel explains the pandemonium behind last night's Oscars
- Creepy burglar caught on video while homeowner sleeps on couch
- Trump kicks off speech to Congress by condemning acts of hate
- Italian DJ takes his own life with the press of a button...
- Believe in America: Trump reboots his presidency with...
- Van explosion under Manchester Airport's runway causes...
- Where females fear to tread: KATIE HOPKINS reports from...
- Do YOU live in one of the nicest places in Britain?...
- Holly Valance's billionaire brother-in-law Christian...
- No such thing as 'finders keepers': Woman, 23, who finds...
- He got game: How Denzel Washington saved the Oscars for...
- Melania receives a standing ovation from Congress as she,...
- Pantsuit Nation! Ivanka Trump dons coordinating red...
- 'Hello first lady!' Melania is seen for first time at...
- Sharpshooter on roof during speech by French President...
- Father shoots and kills boy, 17, as he runs out of a...
- Are aliens invading Australia? Facebook erupts with...
- 'I'm so sorry and I never wanted this to happen':...
- Police searching for missing RAF airman Corrie McKeague...
- 'LOL killer and her accomplice' learn they face the death...
- 'I'm 70 and I still don't like going to the men's...