Australia’s competition regulator stated the federal court has penalized Volkswagen AG a record A$125 million ($86 million) for supposedly making false representations regarding compliance with the nation’s diesel emission standards.
This penalty amount is the highest ever ordered by the court for contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) stated on Friday.
ACCC stated the automaker confessed that it switched to two different software modes for testing and driving conditions, thereby not revealing the original level of nitrogen oxide emissions.
The breach of law took place when the auto giant sought approval to provide and import over 57,000 vehicles into Australia between 2011 and 2015.
“Volkswagen’s conduct was blatant and deliberate,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims stated.
“This penalty reflects a trend of ever-higher penalties for breaches of Australian consumer law,” Sims added.
In July 2016, Volkswagen was accused of treating Australia as a “backwater” by Judge Foster.
Volkswagen was found using illegal software in U.S. pollution tests in 2015, resulting in a global backlash against diesel vehicles that have so far cost it more than 30 billion dollars in fines, penalties, and buyback costs.
