Register to secure compensation from Volkswagen and others!

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How will joining help me?

For years, car manufacturers like Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have been influencing the results of emissions tests with ‘cheating software’. This has proved both harmful to the environment and to your wallet. As an affected car owner, you are left with a car that has decreased in value. A car that, even after applying a software update, suffers from technical defects and consumes more fuel than before.

The Car Claim foundation is doing something about that! Together, we work towards a suitable solution for all European drivers of diesel cars that are affected by Dieselgate. By seeking a dialogue with interest groups at home (the Netherlands) and abroad. We are continuously talking with European politicians, consumer and environmental organizations and the automotive industry.

Affected drivers of Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz diesel cars can register with our foundation. The foundation speaks with the collective voice of the injured car owner. This makes us strong! Not just in Dutch courtrooms, but also at the European level. The goal: to force car manufacturers to really solve the problem. Without leaving the bill with the car owner. Do you drive a Volkswagen diesel car? Click here for more information. Are you driving a Mercedes-Benz diesel car? Click here

 

People

What we are committed to

For individual consumers, it is often financially impossible to obtain legal profit against large multinationals like Volkswagen or Mercedes-Benz. But through the power of the collective, we can make a fist as a foundation. We want to arrive at a reasonable, fair and acceptable solution for all European owners who have been injured by ‘Dieselgate’.

When a car manufacturer makes an actual settlement offer, every concerning individual driver will be able to decide to agree with it or not. In short: you will keep ownership of your own claim. This means that you are free to start legal action yourself after your registration.

The Car Claim Foundation is a non-profit organization. Registration is free. Should you choose to agree to a possible settlement offer between the foundation and Volkswagen, a maximum of 25 percent of that compensation amount is intended for the external financier of our foundation (Vannin Capital). 

lady justice

Car owners are carrying the costs

Dieselgate has been in full swing for over five years and is anything but ending. Worldwide, more and more car manufacturers are targeted by legal proceedings and subject of criminal investigations. After all, in practice their so-called ‘clean diesel’ cars do not comply with European law. The concerning diesel cars are worse for the environment, more expensive to use and worth less.

Our foundation is committed to obtain an appropriate compensation for your damage. We do this by uniting affected customers and consumer organizations and forcing cheating car manufacturers to take action. Together we are strong! Do you drive a diesel car from Volkswagen, Daimler or another manufacturer? Then chances are that your car is affected by the use of cheating software. The foundation stands up for your interests. We conduct research into the behavior of all car manufacturers. Where necessary, we will also initiate proceedings against other car manufacturers in addition to Volkswagen and Daimler. In this way, we want to get compensations for affected motorists like you.

Several tens of thousands of motorists in Europe have already registered with us. Sign up for free too! This way, you participate in our collective initiative and possibly benefit from any compensation

World

Compensation?

The goal of our Foundation is to prevent the consequences of Dieselgate from being at your expense and risk. Our intention is to safeguard you from all the disadvantages that you are currently experiencing as a (former) driver of a Volkswagen Group or Mercedes-Benz Group diesel vehicle. You should have the peace of mind of using a car that does meet the actual environmental standards, without (financial) risk.

In the Dutch proceedings against Volkswagen, we cannot claim direct financial compensation through the court. But in the Dutch proceedings against Mercedes-Benz under the new Dutch Act on redress of mass damages in collective action (WAMCA), the foundation can. Possibly also for non-Dutch car owners, if the Amsterdam Court will allow them to join the proceedings. The court has yet to make a decision on this point.

For non-Dutch car owners, we seek appropriate compensation mainly through dialogue. This compensation can (in part) take the form of a financial reimbursement. Other, more indirect, possibilities are, for example, a guaranteed trade-in premium. In short, our efforts are focused on an appropriate settlement, of which a financial compensation may be a part. In order to determine what is appropriate, we conduct daily consultations with, among others, political entities (the European Commission and the European Parliament), consumer organizations, environmental and health organizations, and the German car industry.

About us

The Car Claim foundation is a non-profit organization, which endeavours to protect the interests of motorists who are suffering damages resulting from ‘Dieselgate’. Our aim is that these motorists will be compensated for these damages. We also strive that car manufacturers will guaranty that in the future, affected motorists can continue to utilize their vehicles with as little as possible adverse consequences.

 

The boards

The foundation is controlled by the Board of Management, as well as the Supervisory Board. The Board of Management consists of chairman Fausto Pocar (former president of the Yugoslavia Tribunal), Guido van Woerkom (former CEO of the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB)), and Arie van der Steen (accountant and CFO of various private companies). The Supervisory Board consists of Marten Oosting (former Ombudsman and former member of the State Council), Hans de Savornin Lohman (attorney-at-law and deputy judge at the Court of Appeal of The Hague) and Jan Zielonka (Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford and Venice).

The foundation conducts its activities strictly in line with the principles of the Claimcode. The Claimcode is a code of conduct, focused on the solid and independent functioning of collective interest organizations. In our annual reports, you will find more information about how we comply with the Claimcode.

Our boards make every effort to involve you, as a participant of the foundation, as much as possible in the decision-making process on important issues. We do this, for example, through surveys about the (user) experiences of motorists like you. We also regularly invite participants to participate in Webinars of the Foundation. Further, we continuously answer questions regarding the diesel emissions scandal; via the communication page on this website or directly via e-mail (info@stichtingcarclaim.com). Will it come to a settlement? Then obviously, we first ask our supporters for their opinion about the conditions of a possible settlement agreement.

Fausto Pocar

Fausto Pocar

'It is worrying that Volkswagen continues to refuse to accept even the smallest amount of responsibility in Europe. The solutions offered up until now are far from sufficient to compensate for the damage suffered.'

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GuidoVanWoerkom

Guido van Woerkom

‘From good infrastructure to affordable mobility: as director of the Royal Dutch Touring Club, I have always stood up for the interests of motorists.

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Arie van der Steen

Arie van der Steen

‘After the VW debacle, the company in the US soon made settlements with injured consumers, as was the case in countries like South Korea and Canada. So why not in Europe? Over here, we haven't heard a thing. So far Volkswagen has mostly excelled in trivializing the damage suffered.'

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Marten Oosting

Marten Oosting

'Why I said yes when asked to sit on the Board of Trustees of the foundation? Simple: because I believe it is important that companies behave in a socially responsible manner. In recent years, the attention for corporate social responsibility has grown enormously.

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Hans de Savornin Lohman

Hans de Savornin Lohman

‘Volkswagen, one of the best-known and most powerful companies in the world, has deliberately misled the public.

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Jan Zielonka

Jan Zielonka

Multinational companies such as Volkswagen should not only be subject to law, but also comply with ethical, environmental and societal standards. Secrecy, unequal treatment of customers and spreading misleading information reveal a pathological corporate culture.

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