By Peter.
The Dutch Consumers’ Association has filed a collective lawsuit against BMW, claiming the premium carmaker manipulated emissions figures for about 100,000 vehicles sold in the Netherlands.
Research cited by the Consumentenbond reveals that BMW allegedly equipped select models with software designed to reduce nitrogen oxide output only during lab tests, while real-world driving resulted in significantly elevated pollution levels.
“BMW blatantly deceived regulators and buyers alike,” stated Sandra Molenaar, director of Consumentenbond. “It’s time for the company to own up and provide compensation to those affected.”
The suit covers all BMW and MINI diesel vehicles marketed in the Netherlands from January 1, 2009, to September 1, 2019.
BMW informed AFP that it became aware of the action via news coverage and has not received official notification, so it lacks details on the claims.
Car Claim, the other group involved, is pushing for BMW to issue recalls, retrofit impacted cars, and reimburse both present and past owners. “Even as we pursue litigation, we invite BMW to negotiate a just resolution,” noted chairman Guido van Woerkom.
This development extends the ongoing diesel emissions controversy that erupted in 2015 after Volkswagen confessed to rigging tests, triggering widespread probes and legal battles across the automotive sector.
In 2019, BMW faced an 8.5 million euro penalty in Germany for diesel models breaching limits, with authorities attributing the issue to a mistake rather than deliberate fraud.
#Dieselgate #BMWEmissions #ConsumerRights #AutoScandal
