Defeat device technology – how carmakers can cheat emissions tests

Since 2015, there have been many allegations against carmakers regarding the emissions produced by diesel cars, with a number of manufacturers being accused of deliberately manipulating vehicles to cheat emissions tests using defeat device technology. It is alleged that many of the accused carmakers made use of technology that could amount to a defeat device in order to covertly bypass emissions standards.

Many consumers will have heard of the Volkswagen “dieselgate” scandal, but they may not know exactly how the well-known brand was seemingly able to get away with producing such huge amounts of dangerous emissions. Volkswagen was the first carmaker to be implicated in the 2015 defeat devices scandals, and the allegations have since spread across the car manufacturing industry, suggesting that many more carmakers (if not all) may have made use of technology to cheat emissions regulations.

Your Lawyers, as one of the first firms to take on compensation claims for car owners affected by the Volkswagen scandal, are now investigating dozens of well-known car brands in relation to potential emissions cheating. We want to help as many affected car owners to claim as possible, and you can check your eligibility for a claim here now to see if you can benefit from our No Win, No Fee claims representation.

How can defeat device technology work?

Defeat device technology can come in the form of any kind of software or hardware in a vehicle that inhibits or deactivates the emissions-reducing controls in vehicles.

In the case of the Volkswagen scandal, it was alleged that the manufacturer used defeat devices as a means of disguising the true emissions output of its diesel cars. During emissions tests, emissions could be reduced as expected. However, in real-world driving conditions, the technology could allow the vehicle to “recognise” that it is not in a test scenario. When outside of test conditions, emissions-reducing technology could be hindered or switched off.

Emissions allegations and compensation claims

The High Court litigation in England and Wales resulted in a ruling that the software code hidden deep within the affected Volkswagen vehicles amounted to an unlawful “defeat device”. We can only assume that this was designed to allow vehicles to cheat emissions tests, but the carmaker continues to deny allegations made against it.

It is our aim to ensure that all accusations of emissions fraud are thoroughly investigated, as this can allow us to help affected car owners to recover the compensation they may be entitled to.

If any further carmakers are found to have used defeat device technology, they may be in breach of consumer law. They may likely have led customers to believe that their cars were compliant with the regulations, when they may actually not be. In some cases, affected owners may be eligible to recover thousands or even tens of thousands of pounds, with the CPUT (Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations) potentially allowing claimants to recover up to 100% of the original price of their vehicle.

Make your emissions claim today

If you have owned a diesel car under suspicion of emissions irregularities, you may be eligible for a No Win, No Fee compensation claim. Anyone who is considering making a claim can use our online form to register their details, or you can contact our team directly for free, no-obligation advice.

As the first firm to initiate High Court proceedings against Volkswagen in England and Wales, Your Lawyers has played, and continues to play, a pioneering role in emissions litigation. Sign up today to take advantage of our skills and expertise.