If so, then it is in your best interest to keep reading this announcement.
Volkswagen is currently embroiled in a PR crisis stemming from an intentional attempt to circumvent environmental regulators. They did this by installing deceptive bypass software that allowed the above vehicles to pass emissions inspections, even when they were at non-passable levels.
Their deceit affects the environment and your wallet. Volkswagen defrauded its buyers into believing their purchase was an environmentally responsible one. However, the long-term implications include:
Increased Fuel Costs: These cars run on diesel fuel, which costs more, while not providing the promised economical benefits.
Need for Immediate Recall and Future Repairs: Approximately 11 million vehicles have received this bypass software. That is a lot of cars that do not meet emission standards. These changes are not only time-consuming, but many owners also fear decreased performance and increased repair costs.
Even post-repair, industry analysts expect:
To add further insult, their ‘fix’ will still not change the fact that your diesel vehicle will be worth $1,000.00 to $6,855.00 less than it should have been worth. If you own one of these affected Volkswagen vehicles, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact the San Antonio personal injury lawyers at the Villarreal & Begum Law Group to start your claim today.
The affected vehicles include nearly 482,000 diesel passenger cars sold in the United States, as well as millions of others worldwide, sold between 2008 and 2015. The cars in question have Type EA 189 diesel engines installed in 2009-2015 VW Jettas, Audi A3s, Beetles, and Golfs as well as 2014-2015 Passats. They all have a 2-Liter, four-cylinder diesel engines.
Volkswagen increased sales by creating a reportedly environmentally-conscious vehicle. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigators, however, discovered this was not true. VW had been installing engines coded with a special algorithm that would allow it to pass diesel emissions tests in situations where it should not have done so.
If you own a Volkswagen vehicle mentioned above, you should contact our office immediately. You may be able to join a class-action lawsuit against Volkswagen. At this point, Volkswagen has not yet come up with a solution, and customers are being requested to continue driving their vehicles (that are otherwise safe to operate) until contacted by the car manufacturer for necessary repairs.
Also, Edmunds.com, a national car-buying website, recommends owners avoid selling or trading their cars unless absolutely necessary due to potentially lowered trade-in values.
Because the vehicles in question were marketed as complying with emissions regulations while still offering good fuel economy, many accepted the higher cost of diesel fuel that came with operating their vehicle as opposed to using less expensive unleaded fuel. Customers may also face inconvenient recalls to repair their vehicles in addition to decreased performance and future repairs. Further, many industry insiders fear owners will face increased depreciation of their vehicles or be unable to resell them.
When VW first started looking to establish its center in California, it promised that it would focus on delivering ultra-low emission vehicles throughout the United States. This led to VW being awarded a $10 million California Economic Development Authority tax-exempt bond to assist in constructing their $27 million centers.
The costs associated with the research and development of an environmentally conscious vehicle, one that would meet some of the strictest of emissions standards in the world, but their investment in the facility and associated labor at significant risk. The cost of the additional hardware necessary for cars to comply with existing standards was too costly as compared to producing a cheaper vehicle that did not meet standards. Deceiving customers by misleading them to believe their vehicle offered better gas mileage was a particularly effective selling point.
Volkswagen is not allowed to sell its remaining 2015 stock and its 2016 models until the issue in question has been properly fixed. Many of VW’s upper-level management have either voluntarily resigned or have been fired from their roles and are facing criminal charges. Stakeholders, coupled with remaining company administrators have launched an internal investigation and have set aside $7.3 billion to cover costs associated with their indiscretions.
