OCU requests an audit of the Volkswagen case

Madrid, 4 November, 2015. In the light of the recent acknowlegement by the car manufacturer Volkswagen that the scandal over the manipulation of emissions now extends to CO₂, OCU asks the Ministry of Industry for an urgent official investigation into the real extent of the fraud committed by the company.

 Volkswagen has just admitted that besides the fraud already acknowledged, which affects more than 11 million cars around the world, of which more than 680,000 were sold in Spain, in addition to the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) we now have to add their admission that at least 800,000 vehicles have irregularities in CO₂ emissions. On top of this there are new accusations by the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency about new irregularities in their more powerful engines.

For OCU, this recognition of irregularities in CO₂ emissions is an important qualitative leap, because on the one hand carbon dioxide emissions are taken into account by the national authorities for granting publicly funded subsidies both to the company and to consumers and on the other hand, the handling of CO₂ emissions could also suggest a distortion of the fuel consumption figures of vehicles, being much higher than those declared by the manufacturer which represents a clear fraud against consumers, as well as being used to calculate the registration tax that is paid when the vehicle is purchased.

 Given the worsening situation OCU calls for the immediate intervention of the Ministry of Industry to check, using its own resources, the real extent of this fraud against consumers and not to leave the investigations in the hands of the company that has committed the fraud. A company which, more than two months after the start of the scandal, is incapable of even providing information about the vehicles affected, leaving consumers in a situation of utter helplessness.

In addition to the concern generated among consumers, OCU reiterates its request both to the Ministry of Industry as well as to the European authorities, to push for an audit of all vehicle manufacturers in order to prevent frauds like this from happening in the future.

 OCU is promoting a platform to inform all people potentially affected by the consequences of this serious scandal. So far almost 10,000 consumers have joined the campaign through the website http://www.ocu.org/movilizate/mentira-vw

The organisation is exploring all possible avenues for the defence of those affected by this fraud, and does not rule out bringing legal actions against Volkswagen so that it assumes responsibility in this case and proceeds to repair the damage suffered by consumers, providing compensation for the damage done as well as the economic consequences arising from their actions in this major scandal.

For more information (media) Eva Jimenez Tel: 917 226 061
prensa@ocu.org