Litigation
In the course of their operating activities, Volkswagen AG and the companies in which it is directly or indirectly invested become involved in a great number of legal disputes and official proceedings in Germany and internationally. In particular, such legal disputes and other proceedings may occur in relation to suppliers, dealers, customers, employees, or investors. For the companies involved, these may result in payment or other obligations. Above all in cases where US customers in particular assert claims for vehicle defects individually or by way of a class action, highly cost-intensive measures may have to be taken and substantial compensation or punitive damages paid. Corresponding risks also result from US patent infringement proceedings.
Risks may also emerge in connection with the adherence to regulatory requirements. This particularly applies in the case of regulatory vagueness that may be interpreted differently by Volkswagen and the agencies responsible for the respective regulations. In addition, legal risks can arise from the criminal activities of individual persons, which even the best compliance system can never completely prevent.
Where transparent and economically viable, adequate insurance cover is taken out for these risks. For the identifiable and measurable risks, appropriate provisions are recognized and information about contingent liabilities is disclosed. As some risks cannot be assessed or can only be assessed to a limited extent, the possibility of loss or damage not being covered by the insured amounts and provisions cannot be ruled out. This particularly applies to legal risk assessment regarding the diesel issue.
Diesel Issue
On September 18, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publicly announced in a “Notice of Violation” that irregularities in relation to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions had been discovered in emissions tests on certain vehicles with Volkswagen Group diesel engines. It has been alleged that we had used undisclosed engine management software installed in certain four-cylinder diesel engines used in certain 2009 to 2015 model year vehicles to circumvent NOx emissions testing regulations in the United States of America in order to comply with certification requirements. The US environmental authority of California – the California Air Resources Board (CARB) – announced its own enforcement investigation in this context.
Volkswagen admitted to irregularities in this context. In its ad hoc release dated September 22, 2015, the Volkswagen Group announced that noticeable discrepancies between the figures achieved in testing and in actual road use had been identified in around eleven million vehicles worldwide with certain diesel engines. The vast majority of these engines are Type EA 189 Euro 5 engines. On November 2, 2015, the EPA issued another “Notice of Violation” alleging that irregularities had also been discovered in the software installed in vehicles with type V6 TDI 3.0 l diesel engines. CARB also issued a letter announcing its own enforcement investigation in this context. Audi has confirmed that a total of three auxiliary emission control devices were inadequately disclosed in the course of the US approval documentation. Around 113 thousand vehicles from the 2009 to 2016 model years with certain six-cylinder diesel engines are affected.
On January 4, 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), on behalf of the EPA, filed a civil complaint against Volkswagen AG, AUDI AG and other companies of the Volkswagen Group. The claims asserted under civil law are founded on the alleged use of illegal (Defeat Device) software in violation of the American Clean Air Act. The complaint’s allegations relate to both the four-cylinder and the six-cylinder diesel engines. On January 12, 2016, it was announced that CARB intends to seek civil fines for alleged violations of the California Health & Safety Code and various CARB regulations.
The allegations described are subject to extensive ongoing discussions between Volkswagen and the EPA or CARB, respectively, also including a rigorous review of relevant technical concepts. The investigations have not been completed at the present time.
In addition to internal inquiries, Volkswagen AG commissioned an official external investigation by US law firm Jones Day for this purpose. This will be an independent and comprehensive investigation that will address the diesel issue. The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG is ensuring that Jones Day can carry out its clarification work independently. Jones Day is updating the Company on the current results of its investigation on an ongoing basis.
The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG has formed a special committee to coordinate all activities in this context for the Supervisory Board.
Based on decisions dated October 15, 2015, the Kraftfahrtbundesamt (KBA – German Federal Motor Transport Authority) ordered the Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and SEAT brands to recall all of the diesel vehicles that had been issued with vehicle type approval by the KBA from among the 11 million affected. The recall concerns the member states of the European Union (EU28). On December 10, 2015 a similar decision was issued regarding Audi vehicles with the EA 189 engine. The timetable and action plan forming the basis for the recall order correspond to the proposals presented in advance by Volkswagen. Depending on the technical complexity of the remedial actions, this means that Volkswagen has been recalling the affected vehicles, of which there are around 8.5 million in total in the EU 28 countries, to the service workshops since January 2016. Based on current knowledge, the remedial actions differ in scope depending on the engine variant. The technical solutions cover software and in some cases hardware modifications, depending on the series and model year. The details of the remedial actions will be agreed in close cooperation with the KBA, which must approve them in advance. Discussions are currently underway with the authorities in the other EU member states with the aim of ensuring that no legal actions above and beyond this will be taken in this connection by public authorities in the other member states. The Group brands SEAT and ŠKODA also received approvals in principle each from their respective type approval authorities – the Ministry of Industry in Spain and the Vehicle Certification Agency in the United Kingdom. In some countries outside the EU – among others Switzerland, Australia and Turkey – national type approval is based on prior recognition of the EC/ECE type approval. We are also in close contact with the authorities in these countries in order to coordinate the corresponding actions.
In addition, there is an intensive exchange of information with the authorities in the USA and Canada, where Volkswagen’s planned actions in relation to the four-cylinder and the six-cylinder diesel engines will also have to be approved. Due to considerably stricter NOx limits in the USA, it is a greater technical challenge to refit the vehicles so that all applicable emissions limits can be met.
Potential consequences for Volkswagen’s results of operations, financial position and net assets could emerge primarily in the following legal areas:
1. Criminal and administrative proceedings all over the world (excluding the USA/Canada)
In addition to the approval processes with the responsible registration authorities, criminal investigations/misdemeanour proceedings have been opened (for example, by the public prosecutor’s office in Braunschweig, Germany) and/or administrative proceedings have been announced in some countries (for example, by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht BaFin – the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). The public prosecutor’s office in Braunschweig is investigating the core issue of the criminal investigations. Whether this will result in fines for the Company, and if so what their amount might be, is currently subject to estimation risks. According to Volkswagen’s estimates so far, the large majority of proceedings have less than a 50% probability of success. Contingent liabilities have therefore been disclosed in cases where they can be assessed and for which the chance of success was deemed not implausible.
2. Product-related lawsuits worldwide (excluding the USA/Canada)
In principle, it is possible that customers in the affected markets will file civil lawsuits against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies. In addition, it is possible that importers and dealers could assert claims against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies, e.g. through recourse claims. As well as individual lawsuits, class action lawsuits are possible in various jurisdictions (albeit not in Germany).
In this context, various lawsuits are pending against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies at present.
Class action proceedings against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies are pending in various countries such as Australia, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The proceedings in the Netherlands are focused on taking evidence only. The other class action proceedings are lawsuits aimed among other things at asserting damages. The amount of these damages cannot yet be quantified due to the early stage of the proceedings. In South Korea various mass proceedings are pending (individual lawsuits in which several hundred litigants have aggregated). These lawsuits are filed to assert damages and to rescind the purchase contract including repayment of the purchase price. Volkswagen does not estimate the litigants’ prospect of success to be more than 50% in any of the aforementioned proceedings aimed at asserting damages. Contingent liabilities have therefore been disclosed in those cases where that can be assessed and for which the chance of success was deemed not implausible.
Furthermore, individual lawsuits and similar proceedings are pending against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies in numerous countries. In Germany and Austria, individual lawsuits in the two-digit range are pending, most of which are aimed at asserting damages or rescinding the purchase contract. According to Volkswagen’s estimates so far, the litigants’ prospect of success is below 50% in the vast majority of the individual lawsuits. Contingent liabilities have therefore been disclosed for those lawsuits that can be assessed and for which the chance of success was deemed not implausible.
It is too early to estimate how many customers will take advantage of the option to file lawsuits in the future, beyond the existing lawsuits, or what their prospects of success will be. On the one hand, the final results of the external investigation by Jones Day are not yet known. On the other hand, the public prosecutors’ investigations are also still ongoing.
Volkswagen is working intensively to finalize the remedial actions described above. For the 2 l engines, implementation already started in the fourth week of January 2016.
Volkswagen is pursuing the clear aim of not adversely affecting engine performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in implementing the planned measures.
3. Lawsuits filed by investors worldwide (excluding the USA/Canada)
Investors from Germany and abroad have announced that they are examining the possibility of pursuing claims for damages against Volkswagen AG due to the movements in Volkswagen AG’s share price following publication of the EPA’s “Notices of Violation”. Volkswagen AG had already been served with lawsuits that in particular claim damages due to alleged misconduct in capital market communications. In some cases, applications were simultaneously made to instigate proceedings in accordance with the Kapitalanleger-Musterverfahrensgesetz (Capital Markets Model Case Act). Volkswagen is of the opinion that it duly complied with its capital market obligations. Therefore, no provisions have been recognized. Furthermore, contingent liabilities were disclosed for a portion of the submitted claims. The majority of the claims either could not be assessed at the time or the chance of success was deemed unlikely.
4. Proceedings in the USA/Canada
Following the publication of the EPA’s notices of violation, Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies have been the subject of intense scrutiny, ongoing investigations (civil and criminal) and civil litigation. Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies have received subpoenas and inquiries from state attorneys general and other governmental authorities and are responding to such investigations and inquiries.
In addition, Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies in the USA/Canada are facing litigation on a number of different fronts relating to the matters described in the EPA’s “Notices of Violation”.
On January 4, 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Division, on behalf of the EPA, initiated a civil penalty lawsuit against Volkswagen AG, AUDI AG and certain other Volkswagen Group companies. The action seeks statutory penalties under the US Clean Air Act, as well as certain injunctive relief.
On January 12, 2016, it was announced that CARB intends to seek civil fines for alleged violations of the California Health & Safety Code and various CARB regulations.
The DOJ has also opened a criminal investigation. This focuses on allegations that various federal law criminal offenses were committed.
A large number of putative class action lawsuits by affected customers and dealers have been filed in US federal courts and consolidated for pretrial coordination purposes in a federal court multidistrict litigation proceeding in the State of California. The claims primarily relate to compensation for material damage. The DOJ civil penalty lawsuit referenced above has also been consolidated for pretrial coordination purposes in this California multidistrict litigation proceeding.
Additionally, in the USA, some putative class actions have been filed; some individual customers’ lawsuits have been filed; and some state or municipal claims have been filed in state courts. The attorneys general of four US states (West Virginia, Texas, New Mexico and New Jersey) have commenced litigation in state courts and allege that Volkswagen Group of America inappropriately advertised clean diesels and that customers were misled into purchasing Volkswagen diesel vehicles as a result. The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also made similar accusations against the Volkswagen Group of America in its lawsuit from March 29, 2016.
In addition to lawsuits described above, for which provisions have been recognized, a number of lawsuits for damages have been filed on behalf of a putative class of purchasers of Volkswagen AG American Depository Receipts, alleging a suffered drop in price purportedly resulting from the matters described in the EPA’s "Notices of Violation".
These lawsuits have also been consolidated in the federal multidistrict litigation proceeding in the State of California described above. Volkswagen is of the opinion that it duly complied with its capital market obligations. Therefore, no provisions have been recognized. In addition, contingent liabilities have not been disclosed as they currently cannot be measured.
5. Risk assessment regarding the diesel issue
To protect against the currently known legal risks, including suitable expenses for defense and legal advice related to the diesel issue, existing information and assessments at the time indicated the need to generate provisions in the amount of €7.0 billion. A sum amounting to €1 billion has also been reported for contingent liabilities, insofar as these can be adequately measured at this stage. The provisions recognized, the contingent liabilities disclosed and the other latent legal risks are partially subject to substantial estimation risks given the complexity of the individual factors, the ongoing regulatory approval process with the authorities and the fact that the independent and exhaustive investigations have not yet been completed. In addition, negotiations are currently being conducted with the authorities in the USA concerning possible investments in environmental projects and e-mobility. The investments are expected to amount to approximately €1.8 billion. Their content and timing have yet to be defined.
Additional important legal cases
ARFB Anlegerschutz UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Berlin, brought an action against Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Stuttgart, Germany, and Volkswagen AG for claims for damages allegedly assigned to it in the amount of approximately €2.26 billion. The plaintiff asserts that these claims are based on alleged breaches by the defendants of legislation to protect the capital markets in connection with Porsche’s acquisition of Volkswagen shares in 2008. With its April 2016 ruling, the district court of Hannover submitted numerous goals for discovery to the higher regional court in Celle in an attempt to prompt a model case decision. In all other cases, the claims were thrown out for being inadmissible. In various cases since 2010, investors initiated conciliation proceedings for other alleged damages – including claims against Volkswagen AG – that amounted to approximately €4.6 billion in total and also related to transactions at that time. In each case, Volkswagen rejected the claims asserted and refused to participate in any conciliation proceedings.
In 2011, the European Commission opened antitrust proceedings against European truck manufacturers including MAN and Scania. In November 2014, the European Commission sent a statement of objections to MAN, Scania and the other truck manufacturers concerned, in which it informed the truck manufacturers of the objections raised against them and gave them the right to comment extensively on the objections raised and to exercise other rights of defense before any decision is reached. Given the fact that the issues are still being clarified, it is too early to judge whether the European Commission’s investigation will result in financial liabilities for MAN and Scania and, if so, to assess their amount. As a consequence, neither MAN nor Scania has recognized provisions or disclosed contingent liabilities.
The Annual General Meeting of MAN SE approved the conclusion of a control and profit and loss transfer agreement between MAN SE and Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH (formerly Truck & Bus GmbH), a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, in June 2013. In July 2013, award proceedings were instituted to review the appropriateness of the cash settlement set out in the agreement in accordance with section 305 of the Aktiengesetz (AktG – German Stock Corporation Act) and the cash compensation in accordance with section 304 of the AktG. It is not uncommon for noncontrolling interest shareholders to institute such proceedings. In July 2015, the Munich Regional Court ruled in the first instance that the amount of the cash settlement payable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders of MAN should be increased from €80.89 to €90.29; at the same time, the amount of the cash compensation was confirmed. Both applicants and Volkswagen Truck & Bus GmbH have appealed to the Higher Regional Court in Munich. Volkswagen continues to maintain that the results of the valuation are correct. The appropriateness of the valuation was confirmed by the audit firms engaged by the parties and by the court-appointed auditor of the agreement. The assessment of liability for put options and compensation rights granted to noncontrolling interest shareholders was adjusted in turn.
In line with IAS 37.92, no further statements have been made concerning estimates of financial impact or about uncertainty regarding the amount or maturity of provisions and contingent liabilities, particularly in relation to the diesel issue and the European Commission’s investigation. This is so as to not compromise the results of the proceedings or the interests of the Company.