Dealing with the Dieselgate Scandal in the US and EU

Courts decisions following the VW diesel emissions scandal, widely known as ‘dieselgate’, reveal a serious lack of European harmonization in the enforcement of Consumer Law thereby undermining consumer protection and uniformity across member states. This article presents an overview of the legal implications of the cheating emission scandal in the US and EU. Focusing on the EU perspective on the ‘dieselgate’ scandal, the essay analyses the first Italian judgment that awarded limited compensation to the buyer of a vehicle who was misled by the emission cheating device. The outcomes of the Italian litigation, especially when compared with successful US class actions, suggest that there is a need to strengthen consumer rights in Europe. The article further suggests that sustainability declarations contained in advertisements need to be better regulated.