Customers Demand Compensation from Volkswagen
Volkswagen (VW) customers in Austria who have yet to receive compensation following the diesel emissions scandal are getting another chance to seek damages, with the Association for Consumer Protection (VSV) launching a new redress action on July 11, 2025.
This latest legal effort aims to secure compensation for affected car owners, with the VSV and a Viennese law firm managing the lawsuit. The VSV is seeking a "real legal clarification" with VW, not a "rotten compromise," as they put it, and are prepared for a tough battle. In a bold statement, they declared, "If you want peace, prepare for war. That's what we did with VW."
The lawsuit is open to current, former, used car buyers, and lessees who have been affected by VW's manipulation of its EA189 diesel engines with special shut-off devices during the scandal. Registration for this redress action is free and can be done online.
The total compensation sought in the lawsuit is 1.2 billion euros, with an average of 4,000 euros in damages estimated per manipulated vehicle. If successful, the litigation funder will receive a 37% success fee.
It's important to note that Austria has a longer general limitation period for claims (30 years from knowledge of damage) compared to Germany's three years, making further compensation claims possible.
This new lawsuit follows earlier significant legal efforts in Austria. Since 2015, when VW admitted to cheating emissions tests, about 10,000 Austrian victims have had opportunities for legal recourse, eventually resulting in a settlement in 2024 for a total payment of 23 million euros by Volkswagen.
However, around 300,000 car owners in Austria have not received compensation from VW. This new lawsuit could potentially provide significant compensation for these affected customers.
A lawyer has already filed an injunctive relief lawsuit against VW at the Vienna Commercial Court, seeking compensation for all affected car owners who have not joined a class action. The success of this lawsuit will determine the compensation for the affected car owners in Austria.
The deadline for active registration for the lawsuit against VW is within the next three months. Thousands of owners are expected to quickly secure their claims, according to the VSV. The cost of this issue for VW could be significant due to the large number of affected customers and the amount of compensation sought.
As the VSV continues to raise the alarm and put VW in the spotlight over the compensation issue, it remains to be seen how this new lawsuit will unfold. For now, Austrian victims of the diesel scandal have another opportunity to seek the compensation they deserve.
[1] Source: Kurier News Outlet
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Business owners and those interested in finance may find two significant pieces of information in this article about the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Firstly, the Association for Consumer Protection (VSV) launched a new redress action on July 11, 2025, seeking a "real legal clarification" from VW and potentially significant compensation for affected car owners. Secondly, the total compensation sought in this lawsuit amounts to 1.2 billion euros, with an average of 4,000 euros estimated per manipulated vehicle. This could have a substantial financial impact on VW if the lawsuit is successful.
