Test every diesel car in the UK
ALL diesel car models in Britain are to be retested amid fears the Volkswagen scandal is an industry-wide problem.
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) has been ordered to ‘rerun’ laboratory emission tests on cars suspected of cheating. The watchdog will compare the lab results – criticised for unrealistic readings – to ‘real-world driving’ data.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin last night promised to tackle Volkswagen’s ‘unacceptable actions’. In other developments:
Fellow German giant BMW was forced to vigorously deny claims that it has also cheated;
MPs on the powerful transport select committee said they would hold an inquiry;
British law firms have been ‘inundated’ with calls from
BMW was last night dragged into the ‘diesel-gate’ saga after claims one of its top-selling off-road models exceeded EU emissions limits in tests.
The German car giant, which also builds Minis and Rolls-Royces in Britain and has a world-renowned engine plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham, vigorously denied the reports in the German media.
BMW’s share price slumped almost 7 per cent after motoring magazine Auto Bild claimed its X3 xDrive model emitted 11 times the official nitrogen oxide (NOx) limit during tests carried out by a ‘UK institute’.
The company issued an official response, stating it did not ‘manipulate or rig any emissions tests’ and insisted it was not familiar with the test mentioned by the magazine. It comes just days after Volkswagen admitted using special software designed to defeat emissions tests.
BMW added: When it comes to our vehicles, there is no difference in the treatment of exhaust emissions whether they are on rollers (eg. test bench situation) or on the road.
‘Two studies carried out by the ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation) have confirmed that the BMW X5 and 13 other BMW vehicles tested comply with the legal requirements concerning NOx emissions. We are not familiar with the test mentioned by Auto Bild concerning the emissions of a BMW X3 during a road test.
‘No specific details of the test have yet been provided and therefore we cannot explain these results. We are willing to discuss our testing procedures with the relevant authorities and to make our vehicles available for testing at any time.’
Last year BMW Group sold 200,000 vehicles in the UK, of which 150,000 were badged as BMWs and 50,000 were Britishbuilt Minis.
BMW’s denial came as it was reported that more top Volkswagen executive heads are set to roll as the scandal intensifies.
Chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigned on Wednesday, and Audi development chief Dr Ulrich Hackenberg – who cancelled a planned trip to the UK and dinner with British journalists set for Wednesday night – is also set for the chop, German newspaper Bild reported.
Hackenberg, an anglophile German who attended a Buckingham Palace celebration in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year – was previously responsible for Volkswagen brand development.
Also facing the axe is Porsche development head Wolfgang Hatz, who previously ran VW’s motor development. Volkswagen declined to comment on the reports.
Meanwhile, British lawyers have been ‘inundated’ by calls from concerned motorists, who are expected to take advantage of the Consumer Rights Act, which comes into force next month and allows consumers to band together in ‘collective actions’ against companies. The £5billion put aside by Volkswagen to cope with a recall could be dwarfed by class actions at home and abroad, experts say.
Jacqueline Young, head of group litigation at lawyers Slater & Gordon’s, believes owners and car dealerships will both have viable legal claims for breach of contract, given that they have bought cars based on misrepresentations which have devalued the vehicle.
Volkswagen shareholders may also have a case against the company, given the 30 per cent slump in its share price this week.
Miss Young said: ’ Car buyers may have suffered financial loss. People pay more for a diesel because they make an active choice to buy a “green” car with good fuel economy. Diesel cars are usually around £2,000 more expensive than petrol versions.
‘But if that car is suddenly worth less because it has depreciated in value, then you may have a claim. This could be an industry-wide scandal. It could be endemic within the industry. We will have to see what emerges.’
Law firm Leigh Day said it was ‘considering a range of legal challenges’ on behalf of British consumers.
Bozena Michalowska-Howells, from the firm’s consumer law and product safety department, said: ‘ Consumers could be entitled to seek compensation for any increased fuel costs, depreciation of vehicle value, out-of-pocket expenses and costs associated with future repairs, including potential increases in road tax.’
Share price slumped 7 per cent