French Prosecutors File Mass Lawsuits Against European Car Companies Including Volkswagen and Peugeot for Emission Manipulation Allegations

[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] It has been confirmed that the French prosecution has filed numerous charges against European car companies such as Volkswagen and Peugeot, following Renault, for manipulating diesel vehicle emissions.

German automotive group Volkswagen announced in a statement on the 9th (local time) that it has been sued by the French prosecution, AFP reported. On the same day, Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot, Citro?n, and Fiat Chrysler, also confirmed that its car brands have been sued. The day before, Renault revealed that it was ordered by the French prosecution to post a bail of 20 million euros and deposit 60 million euros in a bank as compensation to cover potential future losses.

Volkswagen denied the allegations in its statement, saying it caused no harm to French consumers. Volkswagen argued that this prosecution is a reopening of trials concluded in Germany in 2018 and in the European Union (EU) in 2020, and that it is unfair to try the same case twice.

Volkswagen caused a scandal in 2015 with the so-called 'Dieselgate,' where it manipulated diesel vehicle emission devices to pass air pollutant emission tests. Volkswagen admitted to the manipulation and spent over 32 billion euros, including fines and related costs.

Following Dieselgate, the French prosecution began investigating domestic car brands from early 2017. After more than four years of investigation, it has been consecutively suing car companies.

Stellantis stated in a press release, "Peugeot is under court investigation for consumer fraud allegations related to the sale of Euro 5 diesel vehicles in France from 2009 to 2015," and announced it will pay 10 million euros in bail and 30 million euros as a bank deposit.

Stellantis also said, "Two other subsidiaries, Citro?n and Fiat Chrysler, were summoned to court on June 10 and July, respectively, as part of the same investigation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.