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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/sep/24/volkswagen-scandal-vw-germany-counts-cost-of-crisis-after-ceo-quits-live-updates
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| VW emissions crisis: UK to retest vehicles as owners call in lawyers - as it happened | VW emissions crisis: UK to retest vehicles as owners call in lawyers - as it happened |
| (7 months later) | |
| 6.07pm BST | 6.07pm BST |
| 18:07 | 18:07 |
| Here’s more from London-based law firm Leigh Day on the potential claims for UK customers following the VW emissions scandal. The firm’s Bozena Michalowska-Howells said: | Here’s more from London-based law firm Leigh Day on the potential claims for UK customers following the VW emissions scandal. The firm’s Bozena Michalowska-Howells said: |
| If it emerges that these cars in the UK passed tests because of this software, with emissions higher than legally permitted on the roads, then this is not only a breach of contract but a flagrant breach of EU emissions regulations, which specifically prohibit the use of defeat devices. Consumers are thus entitled to bring claims for compensation directly against VW. | If it emerges that these cars in the UK passed tests because of this software, with emissions higher than legally permitted on the roads, then this is not only a breach of contract but a flagrant breach of EU emissions regulations, which specifically prohibit the use of defeat devices. Consumers are thus entitled to bring claims for compensation directly against VW. |
| In the event of a UK recall, Volkswagen should initiate contact with its customers to make arrangements concerning a repair. 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 repair including potential increases in Road Tax. | In the event of a UK recall, Volkswagen should initiate contact with its customers to make arrangements concerning a repair. 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 repair including potential increases in Road Tax. |
| Those drivers who were charged more for the ‘clean diesel’ version of a vehicle could also be entitled to a refund of the difference in price. | Those drivers who were charged more for the ‘clean diesel’ version of a vehicle could also be entitled to a refund of the difference in price. |
| In the last two days we have been inundated by Volkswagen owners who bought these vehicles specifically because of their alleged reduced fuel emissions and who are outraged by the company’s actions. They are looking to form a group action. | In the last two days we have been inundated by Volkswagen owners who bought these vehicles specifically because of their alleged reduced fuel emissions and who are outraged by the company’s actions. They are looking to form a group action. |
| And as a reminder, here’s our Q&A on how the scandal could affect you if you are a VW car owner: | And as a reminder, here’s our Q&A on how the scandal could affect you if you are a VW car owner: |
| On that note, it’s time to close up for the evening. Thanks for all your comments, and we’ll be back again tomorrow. | On that note, it’s time to close up for the evening. Thanks for all your comments, and we’ll be back again tomorrow. |
| 5.47pm BST | 5.47pm BST |
| 17:47 | 17:47 |
| UK motoring organisation the RAC has welcomed the government’s investigation into emissions tests. RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: | UK motoring organisation the RAC has welcomed the government’s investigation into emissions tests. RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: |
| While there is no evidence that other manufacturers have been seeking to defeat emissions tests, news that the Government is launching its own investigation should go some way towards restoring battered consumer confidence. | While there is no evidence that other manufacturers have been seeking to defeat emissions tests, news that the Government is launching its own investigation should go some way towards restoring battered consumer confidence. |
| The VW revelation is now shining an uncomfortable light on the emissions testing system, parts of which have been recognised for some time by all parties to be well past their ‘sell by’ date. | The VW revelation is now shining an uncomfortable light on the emissions testing system, parts of which have been recognised for some time by all parties to be well past their ‘sell by’ date. |
| A new EU test has been in the pipeline for some considerable time, and the expectations are that results will be much closer to real-world driving, but it is unrealistic to think a laboratory test will ever mirror completely a car being driven on a real road by different drivers. | A new EU test has been in the pipeline for some considerable time, and the expectations are that results will be much closer to real-world driving, but it is unrealistic to think a laboratory test will ever mirror completely a car being driven on a real road by different drivers. |
| As this is not due to take effect until 2017 all attention must now be put on ensuring the test cannot be defeated by software so that consumers can be confident in the emissions levels of the vehicles they are buying. | As this is not due to take effect until 2017 all attention must now be put on ensuring the test cannot be defeated by software so that consumers can be confident in the emissions levels of the vehicles they are buying. |
| 5.24pm BST | 5.24pm BST |
| 17:24 | 17:24 |
| With shares in motor manufacturers falling - VW apart - and further declines in commodity prices due to worries about economic growth, particularly in China, it was another down day for stock markets. | With shares in motor manufacturers falling - VW apart - and further declines in commodity prices due to worries about economic growth, particularly in China, it was another down day for stock markets. |
| In the US poor results from Caterpillar added to the gloom, ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen. The final scores showed: | In the US poor results from Caterpillar added to the gloom, ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen. The final scores showed: |
| On Wall Street the Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently down nearly 190 points or just over 1%. | On Wall Street the Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently down nearly 190 points or just over 1%. |
| 5.17pm BST | 5.17pm BST |
| 17:17 | 17:17 |
| BMW leds German stock market lower | BMW leds German stock market lower |
| Germany’s Dax has closed down 1.9%, hit by the latest concerns about the country’s car manufacturers. BMW led the way lower after a report some of its diesel cars had exceeded emissions standards in tests, although the company said it was unaware of the tests mentioned. | Germany’s Dax has closed down 1.9%, hit by the latest concerns about the country’s car manufacturers. BMW led the way lower after a report some of its diesel cars had exceeded emissions standards in tests, although the company said it was unaware of the tests mentioned. |
| However VW itself edged higher as the company acted to shake up its management in the wake of the scandal. | However VW itself edged higher as the company acted to shake up its management in the wake of the scandal. |
| 4.57pm BST | 4.57pm BST |
| 16:57 | 16:57 |
| Gwyn Topham | Gwyn Topham |
| Here’s our report on the UK plans: | Here’s our report on the UK plans: |
| The British government is to set up its own inquiry into car emissions and testing - including rerunning lab tests on suspect engines and conducting on the road emission tests. | The British government is to set up its own inquiry into car emissions and testing - including rerunning lab tests on suspect engines and conducting on the road emission tests. |
| It had called on the European Commission to carry out a Europe-wide investigation into the industry in the wake of the VW test-rigging scandal. | It had called on the European Commission to carry out a Europe-wide investigation into the industry in the wake of the VW test-rigging scandal. |
| The UK’s regulator, the Vehicle Certification Agency - a division of the Department for Transport - will work with manufacturers across the industry. | The UK’s regulator, the Vehicle Certification Agency - a division of the Department for Transport - will work with manufacturers across the industry. |
| Transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: “The Government takes the unacceptable actions of VW extremely seriously. My priority is to protect the public as we go through the process of investigating what went wrong and what we can do to stop it happening again in the future. | Transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said: “The Government takes the unacceptable actions of VW extremely seriously. My priority is to protect the public as we go through the process of investigating what went wrong and what we can do to stop it happening again in the future. |
| “We have called on the EU to conduct a Europe wide investigation into whether there is evidence that cars here have been fitted with defeat devices. In the meantime we are taking robust action.” | “We have called on the EU to conduct a Europe wide investigation into whether there is evidence that cars here have been fitted with defeat devices. In the meantime we are taking robust action.” |
| He said the VCA would work with vehicle manufacturers to ensure that the issue was limited to VW and not industry wide. “As part of this work they will re-run laboratory tests where necessary and compare them against real world driving emissions.” | He said the VCA would work with vehicle manufacturers to ensure that the issue was limited to VW and not industry wide. “As part of this work they will re-run laboratory tests where necessary and compare them against real world driving emissions.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.59pm BST | at 4.59pm BST |
| 4.39pm BST | 4.39pm BST |
| 16:39 | 16:39 |
| UK to retest for emissions | UK to retest for emissions |
| The UK department for transport says it will start re-testing cars from different manufacturers for emisssions. It says the regulator is working with manufacturers to make sure the VW cases are not an industry wide problem. | The UK department for transport says it will start re-testing cars from different manufacturers for emisssions. It says the regulator is working with manufacturers to make sure the VW cases are not an industry wide problem. |
| Dept for Transport announces it is to start re-testing cars from different manufacturers to ensure #VW scandal "is not industry wide" | Dept for Transport announces it is to start re-testing cars from different manufacturers to ensure #VW scandal "is not industry wide" |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.54pm BST | at 4.54pm BST |
| 4.29pm BST | 4.29pm BST |
| 16:29 | 16:29 |
| Porsche boss to get top VW job - report | Porsche boss to get top VW job - report |
| Matthias Müller, the chief executive of Porsche, has been the odds-on favourite to become the new boss of Volkswagen to replace Martin Winterkorn and now the Wall Street Journal is reporting that he will indeed get the top job. | Matthias Müller, the chief executive of Porsche, has been the odds-on favourite to become the new boss of Volkswagen to replace Martin Winterkorn and now the Wall Street Journal is reporting that he will indeed get the top job. |
| Breaking: Porsche CEO Matthias Muller to become new Volkswagen CEO, person familiar with the matter says http://t.co/Wen9Ecs6SG | Breaking: Porsche CEO Matthias Muller to become new Volkswagen CEO, person familiar with the matter says http://t.co/Wen9Ecs6SG |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.45pm BST | at 4.45pm BST |
| 4.24pm BST | 4.24pm BST |
| 16:24 | 16:24 |
| And here’s piece of video on the VW scandal, what the company did and why: | And here’s piece of video on the VW scandal, what the company did and why: |
| 4.17pm BST | 4.17pm BST |
| 16:17 | 16:17 |
| And the fallout continues. The European Commission has said there would be “zero tolerance” on car emissions fraud, while the Russian technical watchdog has asked for information from Volkswagen about its diesel engines. | And the fallout continues. The European Commission has said there would be “zero tolerance” on car emissions fraud, while the Russian technical watchdog has asked for information from Volkswagen about its diesel engines. |
| Meanwhile Moody’s is the latest ratings agency to change its outlook on the company to negative. | Meanwhile Moody’s is the latest ratings agency to change its outlook on the company to negative. |
| Moody's affirms Volkswagen's A2/P-1 ratings and changes the outlook to negative following EPA's notice of violation https://t.co/5UGd9sJml4 | Moody's affirms Volkswagen's A2/P-1 ratings and changes the outlook to negative following EPA's notice of violation https://t.co/5UGd9sJml4 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.21pm BST | at 4.21pm BST |
| 3.39pm BST | 3.39pm BST |
| 15:39 | 15:39 |
| A reminder of what VW has actually done and how its defeat device managed to cheat emissions tests: | A reminder of what VW has actually done and how its defeat device managed to cheat emissions tests: |
| 3.38pm BST | 3.38pm BST |
| 15:38 | 15:38 |
| Volkswagen needs to change its corporate culture according to the company’s works council (which at this point seems a pretty self evident comment.) | Volkswagen needs to change its corporate culture according to the company’s works council (which at this point seems a pretty self evident comment.) |
| In a letter to employees, the council said it would discuss with management how to cope with the costs arising from the scandal, and how to accelerate its efficiency drive. But it says it will do everything possible to make sure jobs will not be affected. | In a letter to employees, the council said it would discuss with management how to cope with the costs arising from the scandal, and how to accelerate its efficiency drive. But it says it will do everything possible to make sure jobs will not be affected. |
| On the new chief executive to replace Martin Winterkorn, the council said it would only accept someone with technical and entrepreneurial expertise, who would consider the needs of both the company and the employees. | On the new chief executive to replace Martin Winterkorn, the council said it would only accept someone with technical and entrepreneurial expertise, who would consider the needs of both the company and the employees. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.40pm BST | at 3.40pm BST |
| 3.33pm BST | 3.33pm BST |
| 15:33 | 15:33 |
| If you have bought a VW car in the UK, the company has so far said very little about how the emissions scandal could effect you. Dealers are telling customers it is business as usual. But should you be worried? Here’s our Q&A: | If you have bought a VW car in the UK, the company has so far said very little about how the emissions scandal could effect you. Dealers are telling customers it is business as usual. But should you be worried? Here’s our Q&A: |
| 3.25pm BST | 3.25pm BST |
| 15:25 | 15:25 |
| France is planning to carry out tests to make sure cars on its roads are not equipped with the software which VW used to fake emissions tests. | France is planning to carry out tests to make sure cars on its roads are not equipped with the software which VW used to fake emissions tests. |
| After a meeting with carmakers Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen, the country’s environment minister Segolene Royal told BFM television: | After a meeting with carmakers Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen, the country’s environment minister Segolene Royal told BFM television: |
| Random tests will take place to establish cars are not equipped with fraudulent software. | Random tests will take place to establish cars are not equipped with fraudulent software. |
| The tests are expected to involve a random sample of around 100 vehicles. | The tests are expected to involve a random sample of around 100 vehicles. |
| 3.09pm BST | 3.09pm BST |
| 15:09 | 15:09 |
| Volkswagen adverts routinely used to boast about the company’s reliability and efficiency, which looks a bit ironic now. Here’s some of the best from the archive: | Volkswagen adverts routinely used to boast about the company’s reliability and efficiency, which looks a bit ironic now. Here’s some of the best from the archive: |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.11pm BST | at 3.11pm BST |
| 2.52pm BST | 2.52pm BST |
| 14:52 | 14:52 |
| VW to dismiss three top executives on Friday - report | VW to dismiss three top executives on Friday - report |
| VW will dismiss the research and development chiefs of Audi and Porsche, and US chief executive Michael Horn, Reuters is reporting. | VW will dismiss the research and development chiefs of Audi and Porsche, and US chief executive Michael Horn, Reuters is reporting. |
| Audi R&D boss Ulrich Hackenberg and Porsche’s Wolfgang Hatz, as well as Horn, will be dismissed at Friday’s supervisory board meeting, a source told Reuters. | Audi R&D boss Ulrich Hackenberg and Porsche’s Wolfgang Hatz, as well as Horn, will be dismissed at Friday’s supervisory board meeting, a source told Reuters. |
| German newspaper Bild earlier reported that Hackenberg and Hatz would go. | German newspaper Bild earlier reported that Hackenberg and Hatz would go. |
| Horn admitted on Monday that VW had “totally screwed up” over the emissions scandal. | Horn admitted on Monday that VW had “totally screwed up” over the emissions scandal. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.42pm BST | at 3.42pm BST |
| 2.26pm BST | 2.26pm BST |
| 14:26 | 14:26 |
| Volkswagen could have its long term credit rating downgraded in the wake of the €6.5bn charge the company has set aside to deal with the crisis, says Standard & Poor’s. | Volkswagen could have its long term credit rating downgraded in the wake of the €6.5bn charge the company has set aside to deal with the crisis, says Standard & Poor’s. |
| The agency has put VW’s A rating on creditwatch with negative implications, and said it anticipated the company would face substantial penalties and costs to resolve the problem. | The agency has put VW’s A rating on creditwatch with negative implications, and said it anticipated the company would face substantial penalties and costs to resolve the problem. |
| There is also the matter of any legal costs following an expected barrage of lawsuits. | There is also the matter of any legal costs following an expected barrage of lawsuits. |