BRUSSELS -- The European Commission and EU consumer authorities urged Volkswagen Group to compensate all consumers, not just those in Germany, for having misled them over the emissions of vehicles they bought.
The automaker admitted wrongdoing in the diesel scandal in 2015, triggering a series of legal cases, some of which have come before the European Court of Justice.
"There have been court rulings exposing Volkswagen's unfair treatment of consumers, and yet the carmaker is not willing to work with consumer organizations to find appropriate solutions for consumers," EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said.
"As I wrote to the company last year, not only consumers residing in Germany, but all consumers need to be compensated," Reynders said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Commission said that VW had informed it of its view that voluntary payments to European consumers residing outside Germany were not justified since the affected cars have now been altered to meet legal requirements.
"The company's position has not changed despite recent EU and national court decisions which is why the Commission and EU consumer authorities are mounting the pressure," the Commission said in a statement.
