Renault, the French automaker, is the target of a possible class-action lawsuit in connection to their alleged use of cheat software to manipulate emissions. The Emission Claim Foundation, an organisation dedicated to helping Dutch citizens affected by diesel emissions cheating, said that Renault controlled emissions in their diesel cars for several years. Around 300,000 vehicles manufactured between the years of 2009 and 2019 had nitrogen oxides (NOx) levels that were 16 times higher than government-mandated limits.
Affected drivers in the Netherlands are encouraged to take part in the lawsuit, which intends to get back around 20% of the purchase price from the carmaker. Early calculations estimate that the diesel claim may be worth over €3 billion (about £2.57 billion).
Getting as many drivers as possible to join the claims case will help the foundation achieve its goal of going to court in Amsterdam by December 8. They hope to bring a considerable number of Renault’s victims.
The lawsuit is financed by an American attorney known for negotiating class-action cases in the United States, such as the emissions scandal involving manufacturing giants Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Other cases he is financing include the diesel mass claim lawsuit against Stellantis and Mercedes.
Prior to the Emission Claim Foundation case, Renault was already the subject of a court case in the Netherlands. The Car Claim Foundation filed a mass claim lawsuit against the French carmaker and Dacia, its subsidiary, about the diesel emissions scandal. When the case was divulged to the public in November 2021, the claim was worth about €1 billion (or about £856,654,440).
The Car Claim Foundation is currently conducting proceedings against Renault and several other carmakers as well. They are working side-by-side with Consumentenbond, a consumer association in the Netherlands.
Renault denies the allegations, stressing that they never used cheat software for emissions testing. They also said that their diesel vehicles all comply with the emissions regulations of every country in which the cars are being sold.
Dieselgate scandal and NOx emissions
The class-action lawsuit against Renault is one of the latest cases linked to the Dieselgate scandal that started in September 2015 in the US. The California Air Resources Board and Environmental Protection Agency or EPA sent the Volkswagen Group a Notice of Violation after defeat devices were found in VW and Audi diesel vehicles distributed in the American market.
Defeat devices are illegal because they’re engineered to detect when a vehicle is in regulatory testing and automatically bring down emissions levels for the entirety of the test so they would fall within the limits mandated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The devices make vehicles appear environment-friendly, fuel-efficient, and emissions-compliant.
Once the vehicles are taken for real-world road driving, they emit unacceptably high levels of nitrogen oxide or NOx as emission control systems are shut off. The highly reactive NOx is dangerous and contains nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Defeat device-equipped vehicles, therefore, are high pollutants.
VW initially denied the accusations against them but admitted later that they knew about the defeat devices but did not inform their customers.
Volkswagen was only the first manufacturer to have been implicated in the scandal; not long after, other carmakers were added to the list. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Renault were also given Notices of Violation for cheating on emissions.
These carmakers should be held responsible for endangering the environment and exposing drivers to health risks.
NOx emissions are responsible for producing ground-level ozone, which harms vegetation and often damages plants and crops.
Cognitive health is affected if one is regularly exposed to nitrogen oxide emissions. When cognitive functions slowly decline, dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can set in. Mental health is affected and anxiety and depression episodes become more frequent.
If a person is exposed to NOx emissions, the health impacts they can experience vary from mild to serious ones. Asthma attacks will be more frequent and respiratory issues such as emphysema and bronchitis can develop. The lungs can also fill up with fluid, making breathing difficult.
Serious health impacts include chronic lung function reduction, asphyxiation, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Research has also proven that premature deaths are linked to exposure to NOx emissions.
Car owners affected by the defeat devices need to hold their carmaker accountable. Instead of taking care of their customers, the manufacturers gave them fraudulent and defective products. They took advantage of and deceived drivers.
If you are one of the affected drivers, make an emissions claim against your carmaker and ensure that you are properly compensated for the inconveniences they subjected you to, bringing a claim will also serve as a warning to other carmakers that are thinking of doing the same thing in the future.
Starting your diesel claim
“How should I start my diesel claim?”
The first thing that you need to do is make sure that your vehicle is one of the models indicated in the list of affected cars and vans. Only certain models manufactured in specific years are included in most cases. As such, you have to determine your eligibility to make a diesel claim.
If you visit the ClaimExperts.co.uk website, you’ll find the information you need to know if you are eligible or not. Check out their website now to start your claims process.
