What was Volkswagen’s’ dieselgate’ emissions scandal? As drivers offered £2K payout

A group of British motorists are to be offered a huge sum after major car manufacturer Volkswagen agreed to pay out a multi-million-pound settlement.

The German carmaker was embroiled in a five-year-long legal battle and has now agreed to stump up £193million in a scandal that affected millions of drivers.

Previously known for its good reputation and high-quality car-making, the scandal shook consumers when it was first revealed in 2015 and the company has acknowledged it must “continue to work to rebuild the trust of their customers here in England and Wales”.

Around 91,000 motorists in England and Wales are set to receive the payout as around 1.2 million of the affected 11 million vehicles were in the UK.

So what was the scandal that rocked one of the world’s biggest car companies?

What was the Volkswagen scandal?

The Volkswagen scandal was known as ‘dieselgate’ and started in September 2015 when it was revealed cars made by the company emitted more emissions than they claimed.

Illegal “defeat devices” were found to be installed on the cars so the company could cheat emissions tests.

When the engine ran normally, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found engines emitted nitrogen oxide pollutants up to 40 times above the country’s legal limit.

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Volkswagen agreed to the payout, but did not admit any wrongdoing and preferred to avoid a trial and the possibility of further appeals.

In a statement, the company said: “The Volkswagen Group would, once again, like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologise to their customers for the two mode software installed in the EA189 vehicles.

“The settlement is another important milestone as the Volkswagen Group continues to move beyond the deeply regrettable events leading up to September 2015.”

How can I get my Volkswagen payout?

Volkwagen’s payout will be given automatically to the drivers involved, who were represented by law firms.

A separate payment will also be paid to cover the claimants’ legal costs, who were drivers affected by the Volkswagen-owned brands like Audi, Skoda and Seat.

The company has already paid out billions due to the scandal, but the settlement took longer in England and Wales due to a system that means law firms have to encourage those affected to sign up to the claim brought.

The dieselgate scandal has shaken the company’s previously strong reputation and now thousands of drivers are entitled to an average of £2,121 in compensation.

The compensation figure is an average and the payout depends on the model of car owned and for how long.

Philip Haarmann, the company’s chief legal officer, said: “The Volkswagen Group is pleased that we have been able to conclude this long-running litigation in England and Wales. The settlement is another important milestone as the Volkswagen Group continues to move beyond the deeply regrettable events leading up to September 2015.”