Like the many owners pooling together to file class-action lawsuits against Volkswagen, one prominent government agency is doing the same.
USA Today is reporting that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a four-count complaint against the embattled automaker Tuesday over deceptive claims of having "clean diesel" vehicles. Obviously, VW's vehicles are anything but clean, as evidenced by its ongoing emissions crisis, which has affected an estimated 11 million cars, including nearly 600,000 in the U.S.
According to court documents obtained by USA Today, the FTC is requesting "permanent injunctive relief, rescission, restitution, the refund of monies paid, disgorgement of ill-gotten monies, and other equitable relief." The agency also said that "consumers suffered billions of dollars in injury" as part of its lawsuit.
"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, as reported by USA Today. "Our lawsuit seeks compensation for the consumers who bought affected cars based on Volkswagen's deceptive and unfair practices."
The lawsuit goes on to cite VW television commercials in addition to company press releases, print ads and online videos, all of which promoted its "clean diesel" slogan, even claiming that its vehicles were "environmentally-conscious." Well, obviously, manipulating vehicles' software to illegally report lower levels of emissions as part of its scandal is anything but "environmentally-conscious."
Upon learning of the FTC lawsuit, VW vowed to work with the agency in addition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), to which it must still present a proposal on how it's going to bring the nearly 600,000 affected vehicles in the U.S. to emissions regulations.
"Volkswagen has received the complaint and continues to cooperate with all relevant U.S. regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission," Volkswagen said in a statement Tuesday, as reported by USA Today. "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."
The automaker has until April 21 to come up with a blueprint with the EPA and CARB over the specifics of a massive fix.
