A Co Mayo motorist has filed a legal action against Volkswagen in what is believed to be one of the first Irish cases over the firm’s emissions scandal.
It comes as more than 9,000 Irish-registered VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat vehicles are likely to face increased tax liabilities due to being underrated for CO2 emissions.
The legal proceedings have been filed before Castlebar District Court by the owner of a 2013 Skoda Superb, who is bringing the case against the local dealer, Monaghan and Sons (Castlebar) Ltd, VW Group Ireland, and ultimate parent firm Volkswagen AG.
Social worker Alison O’Toole, represented by O’Dwyer Solicitors, is seeking compensation to cover the potential liability to the Revenue Commissioners for underpayment of Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), liabilities to the local county council in respect of unpaid motor tax, damages for future tax charges and compensation for the impact a higher tax band will have on the car’s resale value. She is also seeking damages for misrepresentation by all three respondents in the case.
In September the German car giant admitted it had fitted cheat software to 11 million vehicles to beat official US emission tests. A recall was ordered to replace the software.
In Ireland 115,752 have been affected across all the group’s brands.
Testing
Last week VW Group said its internal investigation had also turned up issues with CO2 testing in 800,000 cars in Europe, including almost 100,000 petrol models.
It is believed 9,000 Irish cars are affected in this scandal, which has tax implications in Ireland, as CO2 figures are the basis for VRT and motor tax. The group's chief executive Matthias Müller has written to Minister for Finance Michael Noonan saying the company would meet the cost of any increased tax liability on owners.
In Germany Volkswagen said it was preparing to buy back some of the vehicles affected by its discovery. “We have to think that maybe people will give the car back,” said a spokesman for VW.
If the new laboratory tests for the affected cars revealed that CO2 emissions had been understated by more than 10 per cent, then European drivers would have the chance to sell their cars back to dealers at the current market value.
