Several Thousand car owners involving in China’s first case of Volkswagen Emission Scandal asking for compensation

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai Dec 16th) On 10 December, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF)brought an environmental public interest lawsuit to Tianjin’s Second Intermediate People’s court against Volkswagen’s cheating on emission readings after investigation. This is CBCGDF’s first environmental public interest lawsuit related to air pollution, especially pollution from automobile exhaust.

CBCGDF received an acceptance notice yesterday that Tianjin’s Second Intermediate People’s court has formally accepted the case. Ma Yong, Vice Secretary of CBCGDF told reporters from Auto Ifeng that,” Cheating on emissions readings is an open secret in this industry. We have gathered solid evidence on Volkswagen’s cheating.”

Volkswagen China responded CBCGDF’s pursuit,” We are informed of the prosecution. Our company pays great attention on this.”

According to Auto Ifeng, CBCGDF is asking for compensation more than 100 million Yuan, involving the total 1,950 diesel engine cars in China. Four claims were brought: One, asking Volkswagen to have a public apology; Two, it should burden compensation for environmental pollution damage and compensation for punitive damages; Three, it should adopt measures or substitute measures to rehabilitate damaged environment; Four, it should burden all the fees related to the pursuit.

CBCGDF wrote in the indictment bill that, Volkswagen deliberately produces unqualified vehicles for the pursuit of higher profits, circumvent Chinese laws, worsen the air pollution, do harm to the public’s health and violate the rights of the social public.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the Volkswagen emission scandal on September 2015. Soon afterwards, Volkswagen admitted a total 11m diesel-engine vehicles were involved in the case globally, including 1,950 units in China. Currently, Volkswagen China has released a recall plan and is developing related technical solutions.

Ma Yong told Auto Ifeng that, after the disclosure of this scandal, CBCGDF has been active in contacting foreign regulatory authorities. After holding several expert seminars and consulting relevant legal departments, it finally decided to bring a lawsuit against Volkswagen.

In the investigation period, CBCGDF applied to AQSIQ for Test Report on Exhaust Emission of Imported Volkswagen Diesel-Engine Vehicles on 13 December, receiving an answer that the information does not exist. Besides, on 9 October, CBCGDF applied to General Administration of Customs for the numbers, types and engine types of all imported diesel-engine Volkswagen vehicles in 2015, with no reply till now.

Ma Yong said, “The filing of the case is a good beginning. According to CBCGDF’s investigation, emission cheating is a common issue in the automobile industry. It is possible to sue other cheating companies in the future.”