Exasperated Canadian Volkswagen owners anxious for a Canadian settlement will be stuck in the limbo they're enduring over their emissions-spewing diesel vehicles for at least a few more weeks.
Volkswagen Canada and parties involved in class-action lawsuits in Ontario and Quebec were scheduled to give updates in court today on a proposed deal to compensate the roughly 100,000 VW owners affected by the emissions-cheating debacle, but the updates were put off.
A lawyer from Siskinds Law Firm involved in the Ontario suit told CBC News on Tuesday morning that they hope to have something concrete regarding the affected 2.0L TDI vehicles by the next scheduled court date on Dec. 19.
In an email Tuesday morning, a spokesperson from Volkswagen Canada said, "The parties continue to engage in productive discussions and will keep the courts updated."
"Here we are, the big court date and nothing is solved," said VW Passat owner from Mono, Ont., Anca Periet. "Are the lawyers dragging the issue for their own benefit? I'm furious beyond belief."
Canadian owners of diesel VWs have been faced with uncertainty since it was learned in 2015 the engines emit nitrogen oxide at a level many times more than permitted under pollution standards. They'll take a financial hit if they sell the cars, but have yet to hear how Volkswagen will compensate them.
At the end of July, VW announced
diesel owners in the U.S. can choose between a buyback or a repair, in addition to cash compensation ranging from $5,100 to $10,000 per owner. People who owned an affected VW model as of September 2015, when the EPA first exposed the scandal, or have since bought one, will be eligible. The gavel is expected to come down on the $14.7-billion US deal today.
Rumours have been circulating that the Canadian settlement will be very similar to the U.S. one. Almost all of the owners CBC News spoke to said they would be happy with that. They're just tired of waiting
Bonnie Ayotte purchased a VW Beetle in Abbotsford, B.C., for $38,000 in 2013, thinking it was a clean vehicle that she could pass on to her son when he graduated. The single mother on disability is concerned about reports the amount she gets for her car may be adjusted to account for mileage. In that case, she fears she could lose as much $20,000 on the vehicle.
"It's devastating me financially. I should not be punished for these miles," she said. "I have no control over the time taken and, unlike others, cannot afford to get another vehicle to park mine while we wait."
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