The Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal was one of the most controversial events in the automotive industry. The German marque was caught making its diesels appear cleaner than they really were. The fallout? VW lost over 32 billion euros ($37 billion) in payout, recalls, and other costs. It was a turning point that pushed VW away from diesel altogether and onto a fast track toward electrification.
Fast forward a decade, and history seems to be repeating itself – but this time, Volkswagen isn’t the one in the hot seat. Fourteen automakers, including Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Nissan, Renault, and Stellantis brands Peugeot and Citroën, are now accused of doing something similar. The other brands were not disclosed.
Lawyers claim these companies used software that could tell when cars were being tested, tweaking engine performance to keep emissions low in the lab. Out on real roads, though, the cars allegedly emitted far more pollutants than allowed.
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Caes Filed at London’s High Court
The case officially kicked off on October 13 at London’s High Court, and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest of its kind. About 850,000 car owners are directly involved, but the results could impact as many as 1.6 million vehicles.
The first phase of the trial will focus on a handful of diesel models from the five main manufacturers to determine whether they actually used prohibited software. If the court decides they did, a second trial in 2026 will determine the amount of compensation to be paid.
According to Reuters, the total value of the case is estimated at around £6 billion ($7.9 billion), which could set a new record for emissions-related claims. The ruling will also affect pending cases against other brands, such as BMW and Vauxhall/Opel.
For now, every automaker named in the lawsuit claims it’s done nothing wrong, saying its emissions systems meet legal and technical standards.
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Losing the Public’s Trust
Volkswagen’s Dieselgate saga still looms large. In the UK, the company settled its own case in 2022, paying £193 million ($255 million) to about 91,000 motorists, without admitting liability.
But beyond those, the lasting effect of VW dieselgate scandal lies in the public’s trust. Surveys in the UK show nearly two-thirds of motorists still don’t trust carmakers to be honest about emissions or environmental impact.
The industry is obviously trying to move past Dieselgate, but this new round of lawsuits suggests old habits may not have been left behind entirely. The next two years in court will tell whether this is another repeat of the past, or a final reckoning for diesel once and for all.
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