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 Volkswagen is embroiled in a global recall scandal, and faces
several class action lawsuits, after tests showed that thousands of
vehicles had been fitted with devices designed to mask the level of
emissions.
More than 10,000 Australian owners have already registered for the
class action that targets the German parent companies involved in
the emissions scam, not just the local subsidiaries, Maurice
Blackburn said.
"I am extremely disappointed that, because of the company's
deceitful conduct, I've now got a car that is emitting dirty
diesel," Audi owner Robyn Richardson told a news conference in
Sydney.
"I am here to bring them to account for what they've done. I'm here
to deter other companies from behaving similarly," said Richardson,
one of the lead applicants for the class action in Australia.
Maurice Blackburn Principal Jason Geisker said the litigation, on
behalf of more than 90,000 car owners, will seek to recover the full
cost of the vehicle, plus damages for misleading and deceptive
conduct, among others.
Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) declined to comment on any
"impending legal matters" but apologized for any disappointment and
inconvenience.
"VGA assures all its customers that the affected cars are
technically safe and the necessary measures will be undertaken at no
cost to them," it said in a statement.
"We will do everything we can to fix this problem and regain the
trust of our customers."
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Volkswagen already faces a handful of shareholder lawsuits,
including a securities-fraud class action in Virginia against its
U.S. divisions and a planned claim by Dutch investor association VEB
on behalf of investors who bought VW stock through a Dutch bank or
broker.
The company is also battling dozens of class actions accusing it of
fraud for selling supposedly low-pollution, high-horsepower,
fuel-sipping vehicles that have declined substantially in value
since the revelations.
Litigation funder Bentham Europe, a joint venture between
Australia's IMF Bentham and U.S. hedge fund Elliott Management on
Nov. 5 said it was talking with Volkswagen's 200 largest investors
about filing a lawsuit in Germany, as soon as February, claiming
negligence and breach of securities law.
(Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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