MEP insists that transparency with VW consumers is a must

MEP Miriam Dalli has contacted, the Volkswagen AG Group EU Representation head of office Christof Klitz and insisted about the need to provide open and transparent information to all consumers who could have been impacted by the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

A statement from her office reveals that Dalli approached Klitz after the national TV station broadcasted that Maltese consumers were also among those impacted by the fraud committed by the company.

The scandal engulfed the car giant, after it admitted that emissions test-cheating software was present in some 11 million diesel vehicles. 

 “The Volkswagen group already committed itself to a massive recall of diesel-powered cars that have been affected by the emissions test scandal in January, once the German authorities have approved the company’s plans to address the fraud committed,” Dalli said adding that some 5 million out of the 11 million affected vehicles will be recalled to the workshops.

“These vehicles are fitted with Type EA189 diesel engines,” she said.

 Volkswagen Group announced that while a software update would be sufficient for most cars; other vehicles would require new fuel injection equipment and catalytic convertors.

 “Buying a car is a big investment for many people and such transaction is based on mutual trust between consumers and sellers.”

“It is clearly evident that in this case this trust was broken. From my end I will continue insisting that consumers, including consumers in Malta will be given all the required information promptly and will be compensated for this fraud,” Dalli said.