The automaker knowingly deceived the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and thousands of customers. As legal proceedings unfold, underscoring the importance of process serving, including the crucial step of meticulous process serving, Volkswagen, no longer denying the accusations, will be tried in court to determine the appropriate punishment.

An Impending Court Decision For Volkswagen

Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller has reportedly met with representatives in an attempt to control the damage.
Image: Detriot News

According to John Cruden, the head of the Justice Department’s environment and natural resources division, the punishment will fit the crime.

“The United States will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation’s clean air laws. Car manufacturers that fail to properly certify their cars and that defeat emission control systems breach the public trust, endanger public health and disadvantage competitors,” Assistant Attorney General John Cruden told Gas2.

Volkswagen may face bankruptcy if the company is charged with $48 billion worth of fines. Matthias Mueller, who became the company’s CEO on Sept. 25. 2015, is reportedly working with the EPA and political representatives to gain a favorable outcome.

However, the consequences of bankruptcy are looming. If Volkswagen tanks, thousands of German workers will be out of a job.

Accepting The Consequences

Volkswagen customers have the right to file against the automaker’s fraudulent claims.
Image: IB Times

European regulatory agencies are satisfied with Volkswagen’s restitution program. The company sold a larger portion of the 11 million affected vehicles in Europe, but it seems that the American justice department plans to hand out harsher punishments.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, reportedly said the funds collected from the trial outcome should be invested in electric vehicles. There’s no doubt that funding the development of electric vehicles will be of great benefit to the population, but customers duped by the emissions cheating software still have the legal right to seek restitution.

Owners of affected vehicles might be entitled to compensation. Learn more about eligibility by requesting a free case evaluation today.

The post U.S. Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against VW appeared first on Citizens Report.

Volkswagen rolled out a “Goodwill Package” for customers who purchased Volkswagen or Audi vehicles containing 2.0-liter diesel engines affected by the recent emissions scandal.

As the ashes of Volkswagen’s dieselgate scandal continue to smolder, the billion dollar automaker announced a “Goodwill Package” that will serve as a consolation for customers who purchased affected vehicles.

However, lawyers are cautioning against accepting the two $500 gift cards. Agreeing to the package may, in turn, strip customers of their rights to pursue legal action.

Volkswagen’s Double-Sided Offer

The package includes two $500 gift cards and 24-hour roadside assistance for affected TDI vehicles for three years.
Image: Flip Html 5

In September, Volkswagen became the subject of a worldwide scandal after the company admitted to installing a cheating device in its diesel cars. The software, installed in vehicles with 2.0-liter engines such as the Audi A3, Beetle, Golf, Jetta, and Passat, was able to produce a fraudulent result on emissions tests.

Other affected vehicles include a 3-liter engines 2014-2016 VW, Audi and Porsche diesel models installed with a defeat device, in addition to the 2014 VW Touareg, the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and the 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5.

The company has generously offered to provide a reward for customers duped by the cheating software. However, attorneys, concerned by the ramifications the offer, are warning patrons to be wary of the underlying consequences of the agreement.

One of the cards may be used as a credit at any VW dealership while the other can be allocated to whatever the heart desires. W`ith any offer, it’s important to read the fine print.

Potential Legal Consequences Of Acceptance

Attorneys caution against blindly accepting goodwill packages that may strip customers of their legal rights.
Image: Alcohol Treatment

To receive the gift card, customers affected by the dieselgate scandal will have to sign a form that waives any legal right to a trial by jury.

“In the event of any dispute or claim relating in any way to to this agreement, customer agrees that such dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration with the American Arbitration Association, utilizing the rules and procedure of such arbitration service, further, any such arbitration shall take place in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the laws of the State of South Dakota shall apply,” according to the agreement’s fine print.

About 350 lawsuits have been filed against Volkswagen in the United States. If you purchased a VW vehicle model included in the scandal, you may be entitled to legal compensation that could exceed the $1,000 credit offer.

Complete a short survey to find out if you qualify for compensation.

The post Should Owners Of VW Diesel Cars Accept Company Gift Cards? appeared first on Citizens Report.

Volkswagen has been the topic of a recent scandal for knowingly cheating vehicle emissions tests.

Volkswagen admitted to falsifying vehicle emission tests for diesel-powered engines, leaving an estimated 11 million cars under scrutiny.

Affected Volkswagen owners who have been mislead may be entitled to compensation. Click here to find out.

The instance of cheating has undoubtedly damaged the Volkswagen reputation. In the wake of the scandal, Germany launched a criminal investigation into former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn as he steps down for new leadership.

How Many Cars Are Affected?

The scandal is most prominently related to Volkswagen’s Audi brand.
Image: Blogspot

The reputation of Audi, VW’s luxury brand, was greatly impacted by the scandal. The manufacturer admits that about 2.1 million Audi vehicles are equipped with the cheating device that allowed the German car maker to falsify emission tests.

In the U.S., 13,000 vehicles contain fraudulent emissions readers, along with  577,000 in Germany. The number is even greater in Western Europe, with about 1.42 million cars possessing the cheating software.

About 11,600 of the affected models are 2010 to 2013 A3 TDIs, which were marketed as possessing the company’s first “clean diesel” engine. Ironically enough, the Audi A3 TDI was awarded the Green Car of the Year in 2010.

About 2,400 A3 TDIs manufactured in 2015 use a different method to reduce emissions but are still equipped with the cheating device.

The 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine used on the A6, Q5, and Q7 models in the U.S. is not included in the scandal.

“An internal evaluation on Friday established that a service procedure is required for some five million vehicles from the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand out of a total eleven million Group vehicles worldwide,” the company said in a statement.

“These vehicles from certain models and model years (such as the sixth generation Volkswagen Golf, the seventh generation Volkswagen Passat or the first generation Volkswagen Tiguan) are fitted with Type EA 189 diesel engines. All vehicles are technically safe and roadworthy.”

A Recovery Plan In The Works

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has stepped down to allow Porsche boss Matthias Mueller to take over.
Image: Inhabitat

On Sept. 28, German officials announced an official investigation into former CEO Martin Winterkorn.

But Winkerton’s mistakes have consequences that extend far beyond himself. Germany’s Deputy Finance Minister Jens Saphn said the scandal could be a serious detriment to the country’s economy, according to Reuters.

Volkswagen is not only Germany’s biggest car manufacturer. The company employs a large portion of the workforce, numbering at about 270,000 employees.

“Volkswagen is a core pillar of German engineering and for something like this to happen is a strong blow,” he said. “Getting this reputation thing resolved is going to be a herculean task.”

Wiknerton stepped down to allow Porsche boss Matthias Mueller to take the reins and attempt to propel the company to recovery mode.

Audi is currently working to release a recall plan to address the situation. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority has set Oct. 7 as the official deadline for a recall plan to be submitted.

The company plans “to get in front of the EPA and California Air Resources Board as soon as possible,” according to an Audi spokesman.

Impact on Volkswagen

The scandal has instilled fear in the hearts of Volkswagen investors, who question if recovery is possible.
Image: Amazon

Volkswagen is a 78-year-old conglomerate that continued to grow after purchasing Toyota at the beginning of 2015. The company has boasted the largest market share for automotive sales, but many are wondering how the scandal will play out.

“It is clearly a massive blow to the reputation of the company,” Christian Ludwig, automotive analyst at Bankhaus Lampe told CNBC.

Two weeks ago, market shares fell by 30 percent. On Sept. 28, they dropped again by 7 percent. The recent scandal is the largest in the company’s history, leaving many investors to wonder if recovery is even possible.

“My biggest fear is that the amount of money we are talking about, the 6.5 billion euros ($7.3 billion) that has provisioned for, is a smaller amount than Volkswagen will probably have to pay,” Juergen Pieper, head of automotive research at Bankhaus Metzler, told CNBC.

“My second concern is the duration of this scandal – it will probably take years before it sorts out all this and there’s the reputational damage too,” he added.

The company plans to use $7.3 billion to clean up the scandal, in addition to fines that are up to an estimated $18 billion.

According to the German media, a Volkswagen engineer warned the company about cheating emission testing in 2011. There’s no doubt that company would be in a much better position if they had taken the advice.

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