El Grupo Volkswagen y el Gobierno de Estados Unidos llegaron hoy a un acuerdo económico para cerrar el #DieselGate: el escándalo por los dispositivos instalados en los motores turbodiesel de varios modelos del grupo, para engañar a las pruebas de emisiones contaminantes.
El acuerdo por 14.700 millones de dólares implica la recompra de varios modelos afectados, la reparación de otros y una inversión para iniciativas que promuevan el uso de vehículos libres de emisiones.
Están en juego 460 mil vehículos de Volkswagen y 15 mil de Audi, todos equipados con motores 2.0 TDi, que podrán ser recomprados por la compañía a sus clientes o reparados, según elijan los clientes y las autoridades de cada uno de los 44 estados norteamericanos que participaron del acuerdo.
"Asumimos el compromiso de hacer las cosas correctas muy seriamente y creemos que este acuerdo es un significativo paso hacia adelante”, aseguró Matthias Müller, CEO de Volkswagen AG.
El escándalo llamado #DieselGate comenzó en Estados Unidos, pero se detectaron vehículos con el dispositivo fraudulento en varios países del mundo. En la Argentina, Volkswagen identificó por medio de un recall a todas las unidades afectadas que fueron vendidas en nuestro mercado (ver listado), pero al día de hoy no se informó si se tomará alguna medida.
Para saber todo sobre el #DieselGate se recomienda leer esta sección especial de Autoblog.
Ilustración: Marian Kamensky
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Cable de la Agencia Associated Press EE.UU. anuncia que VW pagará casi u$s 15.000 millones por manipulación
El Gobierno de los Estados Unidos anunció hoy que Volkswagen (VW) pagará u$s 14.700 millones para resolver el escándalo por la manipulación de emisiones de gases contaminantes de los motores diésel, con una compensación a los consumidores estadounidenses afectados.
El acuerdo con la automotriz alemana resuelve las demandas presentadas por el Gobierno de EE.UU. y el Estado de California y otra con la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC), informó un comunicado del Departamento de Justicia.
De los 14.700 millones que VW desembolsará, alrededor de u$s 10.000 millones son para compensar a los consumidores, mientras que otros 4.700 millones están destinados a ‘mitigar la contaminación y hacer inversiones que apoyen vehículos con tecnologías de cero emisiones‘.
VW confirmó el acuerdo con el Departamento de Justicia, el Estado de California, la Comisión Federal de Comercio y los consumidores, "para resolver los reclamos con respecto a los vehículos elegibles de Volkswagen y Audi con motores diésel 2.0L TDI en los Estados Unidos".
Además, el fabricante llegó a un acuerdo, valorado en u$s 603 millones, con los fiscales generales de 44 estados, el Distrito de Columbia y Puerto Rico "para resolver" posibles demandas.
El fabricante señaló en un comunicado que alrededor 460.000 automóviles VW y 15.000 Audi que están en circulación se pueden sumar al acuerdo de recompra, terminación del acuerdo de alquiler con opción a compra (‘leasing‘) o modificaciones para cumplir las normativas de emisiones "si los reguladores lo aprueban".
VW establecerá además un "fondo de financiación máximo para el programa de acuerdo de los 2.0L TDI de u$s 10.033 millones, cantidad que asume el 100 % de participación y que el 100 % de los consumidores elegibles puedan decidir la recompra o la terminación del ’lease’".
El consejero delegado de Volkwagen AG, Matthias Müller, indicó que la empresa se toma "muy seriamente" su compromiso de "hacer lo correcto", y cree que los acuerdos anunciados hoy "son un paso hacia adelante significativo".
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Comunicado de prensa del Grupo Volkswagen Volkswagen Reaches Settlement Agreements with U.S. Federal Regulators, Private Plaintiffs and 44 U.S. States on TDI Diesel Engine Vehicles
Volkswagen AG announced today that it has reached settlement agreements with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State of California; the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC); and private plaintiffs represented by the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee (PSC) to resolve civil claims regarding eligible Volkswagen and Audi 2.0L TDI diesel engine vehicles in the United States. Of approximately 499,000 2.0L TDL vehicles that were produced for sale in the United States, approximately 460,000 Volkswagen and 15,000 Audi vehicles are currently in use and eligible for buybacks and lease terminations or emissions modifications, if approved by regulators. Volkswagen will establish a maximum funding pool for the 2.0L TDI settlement program of $10.033 billion. That amount assumes 100% participation and that 100% of eligible customers choose a buyback or lease termination.
The agreements covering the proposed 2.0L TDI settlement program are subject to the approval of Judge Charles R. Breyer of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, who presides over the federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) proceedings related to the diesel matter.
Volkswagen also announced that it has agreed with the attorneys general of 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to resolve existing and potential state consumer protection claims related to the diesel matter for a total settlement amount of approximately $603 million.
"We take our commitment to make things right very seriously and believe these agreements are a significant step forward," said Matthias Müller, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen AG. "We appreciate the constructive engagement of all the parties, and are very grateful to our customers for their continued patience as the settlement approval process moves ahead. We know that we still have a great deal of work to do to earn back the trust of the American people. We are focused on resolving the outstanding issues and building a better company that can shape the future of integrated, sustainable mobility for our customers."
Three agreements have been submitted to the Court for its approval with respect to the proposed 2.0L TDI settlement program: (1) a Consent Decree filed with the Court by the DOJ on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by the State of California by and through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Attorney General; (2) a Consent Order submitted by the FTC; and (3) a proposed class settlement agreement with the PSC on behalf of a nationwide settlement class of current and certain former owners and lessees of eligible 2.0L TDI Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. The parties believe that the class settlement as presented to the Court will provide a fair and reasonable resolution for affected Volkswagen and Audi customers. Volkswagen continues to work expeditiously to reach an agreed resolution for affected vehicles with 3.0L TDI V-6 diesel engines.
On April 22, 2016, Volkswagen recognized total exceptional charges of €16.2 billion in its financial statements for 2015 for worldwide provisions related to technical modifications and repurchases, legal risks and other items as a result of the diesel matter. As noted at that time, due to the complexities and legal uncertainties associated with resolving the diesel matter, a future assessment of the risks may be different.
"Today's announcement is within the scope of our provisions and other financial liabilities that we have already disclosed, and we are in a position to manage the consequences. It provides further clarity for our U.S. customers and dealers as well as for our shareholders. Settlements of this magnitude are clearly a very significant burden for our business. We will now focus on implementing our TOGETHER-Strategy 2025 and improving operational excellence across the Volkswagen Group," said Frank Witter, Chief Financial Officer of Volkswagen AG.
The agreements announced today are not an admission of liability by Volkswagen. By their terms, they are not intended to apply to or affect Volkswagen's obligations under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction outside the United States. Regulations governing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions limits for vehicles in the United States are much stricter than those in other parts of the world and the engine variants also differ significantly. This makes the development of technical solutions in the United States more challenging than in Europe and other parts of the world, where implementation of an approved program to modify TDI vehicles to comply fully with UN/ECE and European emissions standards has already begun by agreement with the relevant authorities.
