Just a few months after the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) decided to take legal action against Volkswagen for falsified emissions data on their vehicles, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is now suing the carmaker on similar grounds as well.
In an official statement posted on the commission’s website, it alleged that Volkswagen had not disclosed the existence of “defeat” software on its vehicles, which did not provide accurate nitrogen oxide emissions data.
Naturally, the commission continued that Volkswagen had engaged in misleading conduct that its vehicles complied with Australian and European regulations. Finally, it alleged that Volkswagen’s advertising of its vehicles’ environmentally friendly premise was not reflective of the truth.
“The ACCC alleges that Volkswagen engaged in multiple breaches of the Australian Consumer Law by concealing software in their vehicles to cheat emissions testing and misleading consumers about the vehicle’s compliance with standards and emission levels during on-road conditions,” said ACCC chairman Rod Sims.
As remedy, the commission wants Volkswagen to publicly declare its wrongdoing, perform corrective advertising explaining what it did wrong, and pay an unspecified financial penalty. It has also provided a list of the 57,000 vehicles covered in the proceedings, which were manufactured between 2008 to 2015.
In a response to the suit, Volkswagen said it doubted the ACCC’s action would be fruitful to customers, as it has already planned to recall and correct affected cars in the country, once the new software was approved by the government, Automotive News reports.
Volkswagen is also facing a separate suite by law firm Maurice Blackburn, which is seeking more than AUD$100 million (RM309,006,963) from the carmaker, including the full replacement cost of around 90,000 vehicles in the country.
Outside Australia, Volkswagen also faced the wrath of South Korean regulators, where the sale of 80 model variants were suspended in the country. The company was also fined with a massive fine for rigging emissions test data for its vehicles.
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Malaysia consumer also must sue cause Malaysia it is worse. We suffer from DSG even until today. VGM give goring about mineral oil….all tipu. Even last week at SC, so many people coming in with DSG kaput despite using mineral.
Malaysians must sue VGM. Cause non stop visiting service centre and RV now gone so bad. 1 year old Passat sell RM70k also used car dealer don’t want to touch
Better for VGM to compensate every VW owner in Malaysia or buy back their cars at full price. VGM knew about this DSG thing 8 years ago and they kept on selling faulty lemons to Malaysians.
They know they are part of DRB, they think they are powerful GLC and can get away with anything.
dh lama X nampak JPJ check asap lori & Metrobus^^
VW is like john, everyday he will lie and lie and lie and lie.
BN Cybertrooper with no principles.
How about you and your dupes, you always tell truth ar?
Ptuih
Malaysians should also sue Proton for Proton has lost so many lives. Proton gave us airbags just about 12 years ago. Before that, all their cars had no airbags but global cars had airbags now 20 years already
Not only Proton. Should also sue UMWT and Perodua also since Proton Iriz and Persona has VSC across all range, while UMWT and Perodua only top spec have VSC.
1MDB (1 whole Malaysians Di Bodohkan). Ok then lets sue the govt for never implementing safety guideline for manufacturers to setup car company and sell in MY. Please remember the use of seatbelt for rear passengers has only been made compulsory by the JPJ in 2009, before that NOTHING. We are so behind.
The only thing Australia good at…..that is to follow the American…
The image of VW cars now is so bad now. Pity for the owner, after that massive sale discount,diesel gate scandal, and DSG gearbox problem, RV value drop so much. Now no more prestige but a bad status car company that keeps people at distant even the second-hand value so tempting to own one ;).
Lucky here the government body doesn’t take legal action else once they sue for millions of dollars…the money might end up missing or never reach to VW consumers usage.
It is easy money for the gov and the law firm.
And yet our government department and agencies: MITI, DOE, MOT, JPJ, JKJR and SPAD (wow wonder why so many) does nothing to slap VGM in the face.
Wau, now everybody can take the opportunity to claim a new car (compensation); free usage between 2 to 8 years, smart.
Mat Salleh’s justice?
This only works in whiteman countries
VW can’t buy back and refund in full price even they wanted to… Coz more than 35% of the price was charged for excise duties… Which have disappeared long long ago….