DETROIT – Volkswagen’s U.S. subsidiary said on Monday it will offer $1,000 worth of credit cards, of which half may be spent at VW and Audi dealerships, to owners of certain diesel models the company has admitted do not comply with government emissions standards.
The automaker said eligible U.S. owners of nearly 500,000 VW and Audi models equipped with 2.0 liter TDI diesel engines can apply to receive a $500 prepaid Visa card and a $500 dealership card, as well as three years of free roadside assistance services.
The program could cost VW nearly $500 million, half of which could flow directly to dealers.
VW Had Previous Run-In With Regulators Over 'Defeat Devices'
VW also said it continues to discuss potential remedies with U.S. and California emissions regulators, including the possibility that some of the affected cars could be bought back from customers.
In Washington, Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Edward Markey of Massachusetts on Monday decried VW's consumer program as "insultingly inadequate" and "a fig leaf attempting to hide the true depths of Volkswagen's deception."
The senators said VW "should offer every owner a buy-back option" and "should state clearly and unequivocally that every owner has the right to sue."
VW has said about 482,000 cars sold in the United States since 2009 with four-cylinder diesel engines had software installed that allowed the engines to pass government tests for smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions, but pollute at levels far above government limits in normal operation.
On Monday, the automaker posted details of its "goodwill package" at www.vwdieselinfo.com. Audi plans to post details of a similar program on Friday.
VW said the customer offer did not cover models equipped with the 3.0 V6 TDI diesel engine, including the Touareg. The company last week told U.S. and Canadian dealers to stop selling certain of those models from 2014-2016 after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that VW group brands had installed illegal devices on some 3.0 V6 diesel models.
To qualify for the credit card offer, VW diesel owners must go to the company website, enter a vehicle identification number and provide mileage and contact information. VW will send the cards by mail.
To activate the cards, owners then must take the vehicle to the dealer for verification. VW said on Monday that customers "don't have to sign anything" and will not be required to relinquish any legal rights.