FTC Files Complaint Against Volkswagen's Misleading 'Clean Diesel' Ads

Mar 30, 2016 08:40 PM EDT | Alyza Katrina C. Torres

Super power German car maker, Volkswagen has been under a microscope since this year kicked off starting with a lawsuit from the Department of Justice for allegedly installing defeat devices which violates environmental agency standards. Just last March 29, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) piles up yet another complaint against Volkswagen for allegedly misleading consumers with their Clean Diesel advertisements.

The famous German car maker under the manufacture name Volkswagen Group of America Inc. have been in a tough year since 2016 began with a lawsuit alongside Audi and Porsche for allegedly violating standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to a press release by the Department of Justice.

"Car manufacturers that fail to properly certify their cars and that defeat emission control systems breach the public trust, endanger public health and disadvantage competitors," John C. Cruden, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division said as per the press release.  "The United States will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation's clean air laws alleged in the complaint," Cruden adds.

Now, the FTC gives light to the issue once again besides VW's recent recalling of its E-Golf cars. Apparently, the complaint which was filed in federal court, according to the press release by FTC, have VW requiring to compensate its consumers who bought or leased an affected vehicle between 2008 and 2015, including an injunction to prevent the car brand from continuing such kind of activities regarding illegal emission defeat devices.

"For years Volkswagen's ads touted the company's 'Clean Diesel' cars even though it now appears Volkswagen rigged the cars with devices designed to defeat emissions tests," Edith Ramirez, FTC Chairwoman said as per the release. "Our lawsuit seeks compensation for the consumers who bought affected cars based on Volkswagen's deceptive and unfair practices."

Meanwhile, VW is in cooperation and with all its U.S. regulators according to Volkswagen spokesperson Jeannine Ginivan as per Reuters. "Our most important priority is to find a solution to the diesel emissions matter," Ginivan said as quoted by the news agency.

Furthermore, the said clean cars which were promoted through Super Bowl ads, social media and print campaigns will then be subject to a federal court decision and to date, there are no further developments in the lawsuit. 

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