Angry Scottish Volkswagen owners will to go to court in three months to seek an estimated £16million in compensation from the German company.
Last week the car giant agreed to hand out £193million to 90,000 claimants in England and Wales in what has been dubbed “dieselgate”.
The firm has been accused of installing software in its diesel engines that falsely gives low emission test readings. Owners claim this has reduced the value of their cars.
But VW last night told the Sunday Mail it would contest any claim in Scotland – despite the outcome south of the border.
The Scottish case is due to be heard at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in September over four days following earlier hearings in February and December.
More than 8000 owners of VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda cars in Scotland have joined forces for the claim. It’s the first of its kind in Scottish legal history, after a change in the law in 2018.
With compensation averaging £2100 in each case south of the border, the final payout to Scots should be more than £16million.
Volkswagen settled out of court last week in London on the eve of an expected six-month hearing.
A steering group of solicitors involved in the Scottish cases has been formed to lodge the action against VW. A spokesperson for one legal firm, Slater and Gordon, said: “The VW Group emission claim has been settled in England and Wales and the Scottish claim is ongoing.”
Thompsons Solicitors, which is also representing VW owners, said: “As the Scottish case is at a different stage to the English one, we’re not commenting at the moment.”
But VW insists the settlement in England and Wales has no legal bearing on the Scottish case as it has not admitted any liability.
A spokesperson said: “Volkswagen Group has consistently said there is no legal basis for any claims in Scotland. Scottish customers, like others in the UK, have not suffered any loss or damage.
“Volkswagen will defend itself robustly throughout the course of any action in Scotland.”
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