Volkswagen ordered to pay $20 million in Spanish diesel claim

A Spanish court has ordered German automaker Volkswagen to pay 16.3 million euros ($19.8 million) in compensation to people in Spain who purchased cars with emissions-cheating devices installed, consumer group OCU said on Monday.

The company will appeal the ruling, a spokesman informed.

Following a five-year legal battle, a Madrid court found Volkswagen had engaged in anti-competitive business practices and ordered the automaker to pay 3,000 euros ($3635) in damages to each OCU member affected, the group said.

Volkswagen confessed in 2015 to have used illegal software to cheat U.S. diesel engine tests, a scandal that has so far cost it more than $30 billion in vehicle refits, fines, and provisions, mainly in the United States.

Almost all U.S. owners of affected cars agreed to take part in a $25 billion settlement in 2016.

In 2020, Germany’s highest court for civil disputes ruled Volkswagen should pay compensation to owners of vehicles with rigged diesel engines in Germany.