A class-action lawsuit has been launched against BMW by the Dutch Consumer Association, alleging that the luxury carmaker falsified emissions data in approximately 100,000 vehicles sold in the Netherlands. The Consumentenbond group, which filed the lawsuit alongside Car Claim, claims that software was installed in BMW vehicles to lower nitrogen emissions during testing, but these vehicles emit alarmingly high levels under normal driving conditions.
According to Sandra Molenaar, head of Consumentenbond, “It’s shameless how BMW misled both the inspection bodies and consumers.” The association is seeking compensation for consumers who were misled by the company. The lawsuit concerns all BMW and MINI diesel cars sold in the Dutch market between January 1, 2009, and September 1, 2019.
BMW has stated that it learned about the lawsuit through the media, but has not yet received a formal claim. The company’s spokesman, Andrew Mason, said that “no such claim has yet been served” and therefore, they do not know the specific allegations advanced by Car Claim. The Car Claim group is urging BMW to recall affected cars, refit them, and compensate current and former drivers.
This lawsuit is the latest development in the long-running “dieselgate” emission scandal, which first erupted in 2015 when Volkswagen admitted to fitting millions of vehicles with software to manipulate emissions tests. The scandal has ensnared several top carmakers, leading to legal action in multiple countries, including France, South Korea, and the United States. In 2019, German prosecutors fined BMW 8.5 million euros over diesel cars that produced higher harmful emissions than allowed, although prosecutors said the infraction was due to an error rather than deliberate fraud.
The Dutch Consumer Association’s lawsuit against BMW is a significant step in holding carmakers accountable for their actions. As Guido van Woerkom, chairman of Car Claim, stated, “Although we have initiated legal proceedings, we continue to urge BMW to engage in discussions to reach a fair solution together.” The outcome of this lawsuit will be closely watched, as it may have implications for the wider automotive industry and its efforts to address emissions concerns.