The US government filed suit against Volkswagen on Tuesday, charging the German automaker deceived American consumers by promoting supposedly "clean diesel" vehicles that were actually fitted with illegal pollution-cheating devices.
The Federal Trade Commission said it is seeking a federal court order requiring Volkswagen to compensate consumers who bought or leased more than 550,000 affected VW and Audi vehicles between late 2008 and late 2015, as well as an injunction to prevent Volkswagen from using the cheating devices again.
In its complaint filed in federal court, the FTC alleged that during this seven-year period Volkswagen, the world's second-largest automaker, deceived consumers by making false claims that the cars were environmentally friendly, met emissions standards and would maintain a high resale value.
The cars sold for an average price of approximately $28,000.
"For years Volkswagen's ads touted the company's 'Clean Diesel' cars even though it now appears Volkswagen rigged the cars with devices designed to defeat emissions tests," FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a statement.
"Our lawsuit seeks compensation for the consumers who bought affected cars based on Volkswagen's deceptive and unfair practices."
READ: Volkswagen faces pressure in U.S. to buy back older diesel cars
READ: Volkswagen says 120,00 US diesel owners will get gift cards, repairs
The consumer protection and antitrust federal agency said Volkswagen's promotional materials repeatedly claimed that the vehicles have lower emissions than gasoline cars, and reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission by 90 percent.
In fact, the FTC's complaint said, they emit up to 40 times the legal limit of NOx, a dangerous pollutant that contributes to environmental harms and respiratory ailments.
Volkswagen Group of America, the company's US arm, said it had received the complaint and "continues to cooperate with all relevant US regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission."
"Our most important priority is to find a solution to the diesel emissions matter and earn back the trust of our customers and dealers as we build a better company," it said in a statement.
A US federal judge last Thursday gave Volkswagen until April 21 to come up with a plan to fix some 600,000 cars outfitted with the emissions-cheating software or get them off the roads.
Volkswagen has been engulfed in a growing scandal since US regulators announced in September the automaker had installed software known as "defeat devices" to cap the output of NOx below US legal limits during emissions test by regulators.
But when the vehicles are in actual use, the software allows them to spew poisonous gases well above the permitted levels, giving the cars better acceleration and fuel economy.
Volkswagen subsequently acknowledged it had installed emissions-cheating software in 11 million diesel cars worldwide.
In addition to still-unquantifiable regulatory fines from several countries, VW is facing a slew of lawsuits from angry owners of the diesel cars -- notably in the United States and Germany -- and from shareholders seeking damages for the massive loss in the value of their stocks since September.
AFP
Wed Mar 30 2016
![US sues Volkswagen for deceptive 'clean diesel' campaign US sues Volkswagen for deceptive 'clean diesel' campaign](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-09/61443365217_Volkswagen.jpg)
Volkswagen subsequently acknowledged it had installed emissions-cheating software in 11 million diesel cars worldwide. - File Photo
![Ekonomi China teruskan momentum pemulihan Ekonomi China teruskan momentum pemulihan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/71674060668_ChinaPopulation.jpg)
Ekonomi China teruskan momentum pemulihan
Ekonomi China meneruskan momentum pemulihan dan trend perkembangan ke arah baik dengan operasinya kekal stabil secara keseluruhannya pada separuh pertama tahun ini.
![PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61714481430_TBNAIM.jpg)
PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus
PPZ-MAIWP mencatat kutipan zakat sebanyak RM511 juta dari Januari hingga Jun tahun ini dengan peningkatan sebanyak 10 peratus berbanding tempoh sama pada 2023.
![Empat terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh Empat terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721144143_TBBANGLADESHCAMPUS.jpg)
Empat terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Abu Sayeed, seorang daripada penyelaras dan pelajar di Universiti Begum Rokeya di Rangpur utara, terbunuh semasa pertempuran dengan polis.
![Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721130378_JohariAbdulGhani.jpg)
Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala
KPK akan mengadakan Misi Ekonomi Produk Agrikomoditi Malaysia ke India pada 17-18 Julai ini.
![Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41715247870_SohThianLaijpg.jpg)
Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM
Pemimpin perniagaan dan usahawan daripada golongan belia merupakan pemacu penting yang akan membentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia, kata Presiden Persekutuan Pekilang-Pekilang Malaysia.
AWANI Tonight: 16 July 2024
#AWANITonight with @Hafiz_Marzukhi
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
![9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober 9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718630490_Smokerises.jpg)
9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober
9,318 pelajar terbunuh dan 14,671 lagi cedera di Semenanjung Gaza manakala di Tebing Barat, 103 pelajar terbunuh dan 505 lagi cedera.
![Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721142800_AirbusA.jpg)
Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun
Rangkaian penumpang Kumpulan SIA meliputi 125 destinasi setakat Jun dan rangkaian kargo terdiri daripada 129 destinasi.
![Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716613114_TBsprm.jpg)
Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman
Kesemua individu juga perlu hadir ke pejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebulan sekali untuk melaporkan diri.
![KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719822088_ZambryAbdKadir.jpg)
KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat
KPT mengalu-alukan cadangan PAC berhubung pelaksanaan dan pemakaian Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024, kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan kementerian itu.
![Vaksin Pfizer tidak akan berada di pasaran dalam masa terdekat, ini sebabnya... Vaksin Pfizer tidak akan berada di pasaran dalam masa terdekat, ini sebabnya...](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-11/41605004628_Pfizersultracold.jpg)
Vaksin Pfizer tidak akan berada di pasaran dalam masa terdekat, ini sebabnya...
Kapasiti simpanan vaksin Pfizer Inc dan BioNTech SE yang sejuk melampau menjadikan vaksin itu jauh daripada boleh diperolehi seluruh dunia.
![Dua bintang tidak pakai hitam ke Golden Globes beri penjelasan Dua bintang tidak pakai hitam ke Golden Globes beri penjelasan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-01/81515481279_blancabarbara.jpg)
Dua bintang tidak pakai hitam ke Golden Globes beri penjelasan
Blanca Blanco dan Barbara Meier berkata pilihan warna gaun mereka tidak bermaksud mereka menentang kempen #MeToo dan #TimesUp.
![Virus selesema burung ditemui di ladang ternakan Belanda, Britain Virus selesema burung ditemui di ladang ternakan Belanda, Britain](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-11/81416274944_295x200.jpg)
Virus selesema burung ditemui di ladang ternakan Belanda, Britain
Pegawai kesihatan Belanda memusnahkan 150,000 ekor ternakan selepas penemuan virus selesema burung di negara itu.
![Penduduk Kg Parit Jerman, gembira Jerman rangkul Piala Dunia Penduduk Kg Parit Jerman, gembira Jerman rangkul Piala Dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-07/71405304129_295x200.jpg)
Penduduk Kg Parit Jerman, gembira Jerman rangkul Piala Dunia
Jaringan kemenangan pemain Jerman, Mario Gotze pada minit ke-113 ke atas Argentina, disambut sorakan kegembiraan penduduk Kampung Parit Jerman semasa majlis tontonan perlawanan Piala Dunia 2014.
![Bung minta maaf tetapi kata 'no way' untuk letak jawatan Bung minta maaf tetapi kata 'no way' untuk letak jawatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/61369955661_295x200.jpg)
Bung minta maaf tetapi kata 'no way' untuk letak jawatan
Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin hari ini meminta maaf berhubung kenyataan "Hidup Hitler" yang dibuat oleh beliau selepas kemenangan Jerman di dalam separuh akhir Piala Dunia 2014.
![Jerman bimbang skandal penipuan daging Jerman bimbang skandal penipuan daging](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-02/51360799804_295x200.jpg)
Jerman bimbang skandal penipuan daging
Susulan skandal penemuan daging kuda yang dilabel sebagai daging lembu, peruncit di Jerman bertindak untuk menghentikan penjualan produk berasaskan daging.