German consumer group vzbv files a lawsuit against Volkswagen

German consumer group vzbv has filed class action suit on behalf of Volkswagen owners on Thursday concerning diesel emissions tests rigging, utilizing new class-action rules which came in on November 1, possibly making it easier to win damages from companies.

Volkswagen has already had to pay compensation due to the emissions scandal in the United States to vehicle owners. But in Germany, the automaker was able to strike a deal with regulators to repair emissions with a software update, permitting its cars to retain their road-worthiness certification.

The class action lawsuit looks to ascertain if owners of cars with type EA 189 diesel engines had been deliberately harmed by the automaker’s use of engine management software planned to disguise excessive pollution levels.

Volkswagen stated on Thursday the possibility of class action suits did not modify its standpoint that there was no legal foundation for consumers to make claims with relation to the diesel issue in Germany.

Around 40,000 consumers took interest in participating in the lawsuit before a statute of limitations on claiming damages expires by the end of 2018, vzbv stated.

Owners of VWs with diesel engines have observed the value of their vehicles tumble after regulators found they produced excessive levels of contamination. Regulators have even sought to prohibit diesel cars from inner towns, further reducing residual values.

In response to the so-called dieselgate scandal, lawmakers amended class action regulations in Germany, making it easier for others to join group lawsuits without having to submit a new case.

Whether consumers are deserves the damages and what form these damages may take, that will need to be established in an independent lawsuit.

Vzbv has stated it wanted to get compensation for some 2 million owners of diesel vehicles that were not as environmentally friendly as the automaker said they were at the time of purchase.