Over three quarters of car owners (78%) would want financial compensation from the manufacturer they bought their vehicle from if it was involved in an emissions scandal, according to new research.
A survey by Venson Automotive Solutions told AM sister title Fleet News that higher income earners were most likely to seek compensation; 78% of those people earning an income of more than £20,000 per annum agreed with this statement, as did 84% those earning more than £40,000 per annum.
When asked who they think should be responsible for validating vehicle emissions testing, the majority (51%) said an independent body.
One in four believes the Government has a duty to motorists in validating testing, while manufacturers got the lowest vote.
Worryingly, 45% of those surveyed said they wouldn’t buy diesel in the future, as a result of the emissions scandal.
Samantha Roff, managing director for Venson Automotive Solutions, said: “It’s interesting to note the vast majority of our respondents would seek compensation from the manufacturer if their car was impacted by the emissions issue.
“With news reports suggesting that over a million diesel vehicles, in the UK, are involved in the scandal, motor manufacturers could be facing hefty compensations bills.”
Author:
Tom Seymour
Freelance writer
Freelance writer for AM, Tom Seymour has been a specialist B2B journalist covering the automotive sector for over 14 years. He started his freelance career in 2015 and currently writes for a variety of automotive, business and technology publications.
Steve Boucher - 11/11/2015 14:15
All cars sold in the UK have to undergo an official emissions test under EU law. This is to ensure they meet the latest emissions standards, as set by the European Commission, before they can be sold to the consumer. The vehicle is put onto a ‘rolling road’ and fitted with equipment to measure emissions. The vehicle will then perform a standardised drive cycle known as the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) – which contains set acceleration/deceleration levels, and replicates different driving conditions. If the vehicle emits levels of pollutants lower than the limits set for the Euro-6 standard, it will receive a Euro-6 approval certificate, meaning the vehicle can be sold. The test is carried out in a controlled temperature of 20-30 degrees centigrade, and the car must be calibrated to the specification as sold to the customer. All of the vehicle’s components must be present and cannot be tampered with. For example, the alternator belt must be intact and the brakes must function fully to pass testing. The vehicle will be checked to ensure it has the same tyre pressures, fluid levels and components as it would have on the road. The test is carried out in a government-approved test facility, with a government-appointed independent witness. The EU test operates in strict conditions and is witnessed by a government-appointed independent approval agency. In the UK, this is the Vehicle Certification Agency, which is responsible to the Department for Transport. In the US, the official tests are carried out by the manufacturer and not witnessed by an independent third-party as they are in the EU. The results are submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which decides whether to accept them or test the vehicle itself. The emissions limits set in the US tests are different from those in the EU. The conditions of the test in the US – in other words, the driving cycle – are also different to those in the EU.