In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to inserting a “cheat device” into many of their cars in order to cheat emissions tests. Audi has been owned by the Volkswagen Group since 1966, and a number of Audi’s cars were fitted with this cheat device.
This has meant that over the past decade thousands of UK citizens could have been driving Audi vehicles that promised better performance and less pollution than was actually the case. Autocar tests have shown that the cars do have a worse fuel economy after the fix.
Audi is a very popular car in the UK, driven by families and businesses alike. This meant many of the 91,000 claimants were Audi owners.
The claim is now closed.
What was the Audi Emissions Scandal?
In September 2015, Volkswagen admitted that 1.2 million of its vehicles sold in the UK were fitted with a cheat software. The case became known as the VW emissions scandal or “dieselgate”.
However, included within these 1.2 million vehicles were cars within the VW Group brand – Audi, Seat, Skoda.
While no definitive emissions tests have yet taken place in the UK, researchers in the US found that when tested on the road, some cars emitted almost 40 times the permitted US levels of nitrogen oxides. The permitted levels do differ in the US and the UK. This is particularly ironic due to Audi’s tagline of “Vorsprung Durch Technik” – “Progress Through Technology”.
In addition to this, it has been reported that many of the senior figures in charge at the time of the use of the cheat device had originated from Audi.
Not only is cheating the NOx emission tests bad for the environment, it can potentially hurt the pockets of Audi customers. Clients who have been affected may have suffered damages because of it. If they have a valid claim they may be able to make a claim for compensation.
In 2017, the Volkswagen Group brand had to recall 4,997 A8 models in Europe fitted with V8 diesel engines to update their software after it was found they emitted too much NOx.
In May 2022, the VW Group paid out £193m to claimants, the first settlement of its kind in the UK.
What cars were affected by the Audi emissions scandal?
The VW NOx Emissions Group Litigation relates to vehicles manufactured by Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT or Skoda with a 1.2, 1.6 or 2.0 litre EA189 diesel engine, manufactured before 2016.
Other cars may be affected including, Porsche. Whilst no finding or decision has been made in respect of other vehicles such as Porsche, our panel are looking into them.