Volkswagen under investigation over illegal software that masks pollution

[Rawcpoppa]

VW to release fix for cars affected by emissions scandal, says chief executive | Business | The Guardian

VW to release fix for cars affected by emissions scandal, says chief executive



VW to release fix for cars affected by emissions scandal, says chief executive

Volkswagen chief executive Matthias Müller has said the company will deliver technical details on fixing cars fitted with emissions-rigging software to German regulators by the end of the month.

According to a copy of a speech he gave to company managers at Volkswagen headquarters on Monday, Müller said the Federal Motor Transport Authority has signed off on a software update to fix affected 2-litre diesel motors. The regulator has also given the “basic go” to a fix for the 1.6-litre vehicles that will also involve replacing an air filter cartridge and grill. Details are being finalised on a software fix for 1.2-litre motors.

Müller said most of the affected vehicles would not need major work. He said: “For about 90% of the group’s vehicles in Europe the solutions are confirmed. The cost for the retrofitting is technically, physically and financially manageable.”

[Rawcpoppa]

1.6L and 2.0L fix put forward by VW



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKN8danpIfE

[Bayman]

Tomorrow the 27th November is the last day I am advised to appoint Maurice Blackburn as Lawyers in joining their Class Action.
So much is unknown considering the so called fix now released being a mere software upgrade for the 2.0l Diesel engine. Based on this fix, it would be fair to say once the whole scenario has washed through the motor trade, will Class Action members be really out of pocket to the extent that they receive any compensation after any win in the courts. At the moment I have heard most if not all car dealers (excluding VW Group dealers) will not touch a VW Diesel for a trade in or offer SFA at the worst, so yes atm, there is a financial loss incurred.

Reading all the legal mumbo from Maurice Blackburn re the retainer, and with a lack of trust in lawyers for not ripping clients off, can anyone shed some light or have they had legal advice as to what to do, submit the retainer and join in?

[Guest001]

Tomorrow the 27th November is the last day I am advised to appoint Maurice Blackburn as Lawyers in joining their Class Action.
So much is unknown considering the so called fix now released being a mere software upgrade for the 2.0l Diesel engine. Based on this fix, it would be fair to say once the whole scenario has washed through the motor trade, will Class Action members be really out of pocket to the extent that they receive any compensation after any win in the courts. At the moment I have heard most if not all car dealers (excluding VW Group dealers) will not touch a VW Diesel for a trade in or offer SFA at the worst, so yes atm, there is a financial loss incurred.

Reading all the legal mumbo from Maurice Blackburn re the retainer, and with a lack of trust in lawyers for not ripping clients off, can anyone shed some light or have they had legal advice as to what to do, submit the retainer and join in?

I have joined and asked for clarification of things. Can only say so much but basically they run the claim at their expense. If we win they take a % of probably under 25% all up. Also if VW have to pay our legal costs whatever winnings wont have costs deducted from it. If they lose THEY WEAR THE COSTS. We dont have to pay a penny. Thats what I was told.
How much we get is an absolute unknown but anything is better than nothing.

[VW Convert]

How much we get is an absolute unknown but anything is better than nothing.

This is an interesting point.

I'm fairly sure I saw the figure of $10,000 per vehicle mentioned as being the amount being claimed. Of course this is a starting point only, but one would have to think that a fixed amount per vehicle would be grossly unfair. An owner who drove a brand new $65,000 CC diesel out of the showroom the day before the issue became public must surely be wearing a significantly greater loss in terms of resale value than say the owner of a $25,000 (when new) 2008 Golf with 150,000 KM on the clock.

Have Maurice Blackburn given any more detail on how they would anticipate this panning out?

Cheers

George

[Bayman]

This is an interesting point.



Have Maurice Blackburn given any more detail on how they would anticipate this panning out?

Cheers

George

With some knowledge of other class actions, I'd say MB would have claimants in categories and if any pool of money was obtained, the slicing of the cake would sort who gets what. So I would guess the older the vehicle the less they could claim in terms of resale value loss. I dare say MB could claim our time value in returning the vehicle for the software patch as it is a repair of a fraudulent nature not an engineering unforeseen error. This is where MB will charge each and everyone a fee (from the courts compensation won)to administer the disbursements. Whether as retaining MB as lawyers is over and above a court ruling on VWA to compensate all VW owners is another thing.

Today's news that VWG have not organised any response is just typical that the company is not really treating these class actions with any seriousness, so the ACCC and the Federal Courts may well stick the boot in next round in December.

[Eaglen00b]

This is an interesting point.

I'm fairly sure I saw the figure of $10,000 per vehicle mentioned as being the amount being claimed. Of course this is a starting point only, but one would have to think that a fixed amount per vehicle would be grossly unfair. An owner who drove a brand new $65,000 CC diesel out of the showroom the day before the issue became public must surely be wearing a significantly greater loss in terms of resale value than say the owner of a $25,000 (when new) 2008 Golf with 150,000 KM on the clock.

Have Maurice Blackburn given any more detail on how they would anticipate this panning out?

Cheers

George

IIRC BL are pursuing VW's Australian operations only, whereas MB are going after Volkswagen AG Deustchland as well as VW Aust. Not sure where you got the $10k figure from though....

Signed up today too. Sorry VW, I gotta look out for #1.

[Guest001]

This is an interesting point.

I'm fairly sure I saw the figure of $10,000 per vehicle mentioned as being the amount being claimed. Of course this is a starting point only, but one would have to think that a fixed amount per vehicle would be grossly unfair. An owner who drove a brand new $65,000 CC diesel out of the showroom the day before the issue became public must surely be wearing a significantly greater loss in terms of resale value than say the owner of a $25,000 (when new) 2008 Golf with 150,000 KM on the clock.

Have Maurice Blackburn given any more detail on how they would anticipate this panning out?

Cheers

George

Unless they have a crystal ball I dont think anyone does. May depend on whether the Judges corns are hurting or not if you get what I mean. MB are hopeful of a settlement but they would say that wouldnt they.

A long way to go and a lot of argy bargy before anything happens As I said $10,000 was a supposition from one of the 99% who have made them in this thread and others. Why would a lawyer make a public statement about such a low figure. With costs running into the millions they will be adding a fair few zeros on to that amount. Plus hitting VW up for their costs if we win.

Its wait and see and trust they know what they are doing Seems they are fairly successful at this type of claim.


Have just this minute received the Email from VW confirming the fixes already published It does also say no decrease of performance or increase in fuel consumption are expected

[arcadelt]

...but anything is better than nothing.

Sometimes, Hillbilly, nothing is better than something, if that something has detrimental conditions and clauses attached. However, given the video on the fix I am now seriously considering joining the class action, because like others I cannot believe that a company and its officers would be so stupid to risk billions in shareholder value and customer goodwill when the fix was so simple. It really makes me wonder what is actually going on under the public affairs spin, especially in regards to the regulatory negotiations, and perhaps class actions are the best way to get to the bottom of it all and not see the millions of individual consumers the only ones standing at the end of this high-stakes game of musical chairs.

[bluey]

Sometimes, Hillbilly, nothing is better than something, if that something has detrimental conditions and clauses attached. However, given the video on the fix I am now seriously considering joining the class action, because like others I cannot believe that a company and its officers would be so stupid to risk billions in shareholder value and customer goodwill when the fix was so simple.[..]

I personally am not expecting any negative value with fix.

Maurice Blackburn needs people to sign up before they know what the "fix" and VW's compensation might actually be. Otherwise, they may not get any money for their preliminary work if they end up with no case.

VW I expect has expensive lawyers who will be giving them advice on how to avoid compensation payouts, because that is a cost with no value to the company. VW will be more likely to spend money to keep customers happy and loyal, especially where this is "paper money" which costs much less to VW to give than real money compensation.

On the radio early on, the MB lawyer suggested that it was the "lead applicant" in the class action that was committed to paying the costs of the action. Presumably, in reality, they try to get everyone to ante up a bit.

In all legal matters the only certainty comes with a settlement by negotiation or a court judgement which will take years.