Volkswagen's massive recall to make 11 million manipulated vehicles comply with emissions regulations is projected to cost nearly $10 billion.
But that projection only covers the recall stemming from its messy emissions scandal, the worst crisis of Volkswagen's 78-year history. The embattled automaker, though, still faces the possibility of class-action lawsuits from drivers and regulatory fines from countries affected.
China has emerged as one of those countries. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that a nonprofit organization in the country — the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation — is seeking unspecified damages and an apology from the automaker over its emissions scandal.
It's interesting that a group in China is seeking damages, considering 1,950 cars were reportedly affected by Volkswagen's emissions cheating— a number that is far less than other countries affected, including the United States.
Still, it's one that Volkswagen needs to take seriously, considering China stands as the automaker's top market in sheer volume of sales. The Journal reports that Volkswagen sold 3.67 million cars in China in 2014 and 3.22 million from January through November of this year.
"This behavior is very serious. It's intentionally malicious," Ma Yong, the deputy secretary-general of the Foundation, said in a statement, as reported by the Journal. "Volkswagen must be responsible for its destruction of China's environment."
He added: "It must make a public apology through China's national media, and a fine must be imposed."
Emissions are already a large contributor to China's air pollution and VW's emissions manipulation only added to the country's problem.
As VW continues to push through the trudge of this emissions scandal, which other countries will step up and seek damages from the automaker?
