Dieselgate: No goodwill plan yet for Aussie owners, says VW

VOLKSWAGEN Australia says it is yet to determine if it can offer a similar cash-and-kind program for customers here that has delivered a $AU1400 goodwill package to US owners affected by the growing emissions scandal.

In a deal announced overnight, the carmaker’s US customers are queueing up for a goodwill package that includes $US500 in cash, as well as $US500 that they can spend at a Volkswagen dealership on services. As well, they will have access to three years of roadside support at no extra charge.

More than 11 million cars globally are affected by the emissions cheat, with up to half a million of them in the US. In Australia, the tally of Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen passenger cars and commercial vehicles linked to Dieselgate has reached almost 100,000 vehicles.

A Volkswagen Australia spokesman said the carmaker had not yet outlined a plan locally to support owners affected by the recall.

“As the vehicles in the US and Canada are subject to a significantly more stringent emissions legislation, they will consequently have to wait longer for remedies than is the case in most other countries,” the spokesman said.

“In Australia, locally we haven’t announced a program as Volkswagen AG is putting together a package of measures for each market.”

Volkswagen Australia has not made a local public statement relating to the emissions scandal since it announced on October 9 a voluntary recall for vehicles affected by the diesel cheat.