Volkswagen India Penalised For Selling Defective Car In Chennai

This fine was slapped for causing mental agony to the customer and not taking the responsibility of the defect in the car and blaming the customer for rash driving.

A customer from Chinmaya Nagar, SG Ramesh Kumar purchased a Volkswagen car from Abra Motors on April 19, 2012. Eight months later he noticed oil leakage in the car.

The dealer informed him that the oil sump was leaking. The insurance surveyor had declined the insurance claim. After that Service Manager said, Kumar, he should bear 50 percent of the cost, around Rs 2 lakh.

Acting to this reply Kumar sent a legal notice to the dealer which went unanswered. Later he sued Volkswagen India, Volkswagen Group Sales India and Abra Motors Chennai.

In reply Volkswagen India stated that there was no cause of action as it assigned its entire rights and claims in favour of Volkswagen Group Sales India and dealer for direct sales.

But Volkswagen Sales Group said it was to be dealt with the dealer. Abra Motors blamed Kumar for hitting a boulder and damaging the sump guard which resulted in oil leakage and then driving the vehicle caused engine cease.

But the consumer court bench found no evidence on behalf of three parties that the damage was caused by accident. So, it directed Volkswagen India and its group sales firm to pay compensation, replace the engine and oil sump.

Most Read: Did You Know? These 10 Everyday Car Technologies Came From Racing