picture alliance / Marijan Murat
Long gone: Baden-Württemberg’s Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) with Lutz Mesche, CFO of Porsche AG, and Hubert Waltl, then head of production at Audi, at a meeting in May last year
Although the subsidiary Audi also produces in Baden-Württemberg. But this does not prevent the black-green state government from being the first federal state to sue the group for damages. Finally, the “Ländle” has a number of diesel cars of the group in its numerous fleets. Their value is constantly decreasing.
The amount of the claim is still unclear. But it is certain that Baden-Württemberg is the first federal state to sue the Volkswagen Group for damages for the diesel scandal. “And we expect good chances of success,” said a spokeswoman for the responsible state treasury on demand from manager-magazin.de on Monday.
The black-green state government throws the carmaker a “deliberately immoral damage” by the manipulated exhaust software in front. The Ministry will shortly file the lawsuit in order not to miss an important limitation period, the spokeswoman said, confirming newspaper reports from “FAZ” and “Southwest Press”,
The lawsuit will apply to all of the country for example for the police or other authorities purchased and leased diesel vehicles of the brands VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat with the engine type EA 189. All ministries are asked to determine the number of vehicles concerned in the relevant authorities. Results are not yet available.
Politically spicy in the targeted lawsuit is: The Group subsidiary Audi produces in Neckarsulm in Baden-Württemberg.
Politically spicy: VW subsidiary Audi produces in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg initially offered Volkswagen an out-of-court settlement. VW let the deadline pass. The group seems to be quite sure of its cause. Because of the diesel scandal German courts have already spoken 10,000 judgments, most in favor of the group. Presumably in February, the Federal Court wants to make a first judgment.
In the past, Volkswagen has often rejected claims that have been filed in the same way by pointing out that, according to the car maker, there is no legal basis for doing so. The affected diesel vehicles are ready to drive and safe. After the massive software updates, they would also comply with the applicable “regulatory requirements”.
Baden-Württemberg, meanwhile, would be the first federal state to file a lawsuit in the diesel scandal. “From a budgetary point of view, we are obliged to secure possible revenues on time and in full – after all, this is about taxpayers’ money,” the spokeswoman said.
Bitter VW customers complain to tens of thousands
Bitter VW diesel drivers now complain to tens of thousands against the group. Recently, the legal service provider “MyRight” for around 19,000 VW customers Lawsuit against the Group filed with the Regional Court of Braunschweig.
Much more than 80,000 disappointed Volkswagen customers and diesel drivers have joined a model declaration suit against the car maker, so in case of success so later easier to enforce their own claims in court. Consumer advocates and ADAC want to clarify with the complaint whether consumers are entitled to compensation claims.
While Volkswagen in this country holds out betrayed customers and understandably dare to defend themselves only with a good legal expenses insurance in the back, the group in the US has long been approved of pressure from authorities for a generous compensation of customers.
Baden-Wurttemberg, meanwhile, had filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen two years ago – but because of losses incurred by the country’s provident funds for civil servants in connection with the announcement of the exhaust gas scandal, as the plaintiffs claim.