Prosecutors in Paris have called for German carmaker Volkswagen to face charges of aggravated fraud in France related to the Dieselgate emissions scandal. In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to selling 11m vehicles with devices designed to cheat emissions tests. Nearly a million French customers incurred costs for servicing and repairs after the scandal emerged. A 2021 expert report indicated that the company employed a “cost-benefit” strategy approved by management for the test-cheating software. Volkswagen contests the French allegations, saying that French consumers did not suffer harm warranting compensation, and that a previous German court case had already addressed these issues. “A double conviction on identical allegations is totally prohibited,” the carmaker said. Paris prosecutors maintain that the French charges are “complementary” to the German case, focusing on consumer rights.
Leave a Reply