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Volkswagen Loses Fine Appeal For Emissions Breach In Australia

By  |  April 11, 2021

The Australian competition regulator stated on Friday, April 9, the federal court dismissed Volkswagen’s appeal against a record AU$125 million (US$95.1 million) fine on the German car maker, which was part of a global emissions cheating scandal.

The federal court fined Volkswagen in December 2019 for breaching the Australian consumer law by making false representations about compliance with the country’s diesel emissions standards.

Volkswagen later appealed this decision, insisting that the court impose the AU$75 million penalty amount agreed upon with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the regulator stated.

In an emailed statement to Reuters, Volkswagen wrote that it believes that AU$75 million was “fair” and it would review the federal court’s decision and consider its options.

ACCC had previously stated the breach occurred between 2011 and 2015 and the automaker admitted to fitting its vehicles with a defeat device, causing them to operate in one mode for the purpose of emissions testing and another when being driven.

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