VW owners in Scotland to move ahead with Europe-wide claim for damages

Scots who own Volkswagens are moving ahead with their legal battle for damages from the car manufacturer in the wake of a $15 billion settlement in the US.

The German car giant fitted its vehicles with software which gave false readings in diesel emissions tests.

Patrick McGuire of Thompsons Solicitors represents the 400 owners in Scotland seeking compensation. He said his firm was working with European colleagues to challenge VW’s refusal to make payouts this side of the pond.

Mr McGuire said: “We have a situation here where Hinrich Woebcken, president and chief executive of Volkswagen America, said this week that the settlement was ‘an important milestone in our journey to making things right’. But in Europe people are just expected to keep quiet and go away.

“Well, I can tell VW right now that is simply not going to happen. My firm is working with lawyers in the Republic of Ireland, Germany and other European nations to present a continent-wide fight for justice for these consumers. We are very confident of success and will be holding a meeting in Brussels soon.”

The news comes after a judge in San Francisco told the car maker to pay $10bn out to owners in order to refit their cars and make them road legal.

Tens of thousands of motorists in Scotland found they had been duped when the emissions scandal came to light but Volkswagen has repeatedly said it will not pay damages to owners of affected VW, Skoda, Seat and Audi models in Europe.