Dutch Consumer Groups Launch Legal Action Against BMW
German luxury car manufacturer BMW is facing a class-action lawsuit in the Netherlands, initiated by prominent consumer organizations Consumentenbond and the Car Claim Foundation. The legal action, announced on November 10, 2025, accuses BMW of allegedly employing software to manipulate diesel emissions tests, leading to vehicles appearing more environmentally friendly during official inspections than they are under normal driving conditions.
The lawsuit targets approximately 100,000 BMW and MINI diesel models sold in the Dutch market between January 1, 2009, and September 1, 2019.
Allegations of 'Shameless' Deception
According to the consumer groups, studies have indicated that BMW installed software designed to artificially lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions during official type-approval tests. However, these same vehicles reportedly exhibited 'alarmingly' high emissions when driven under real-world conditions.
Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumentenbond, strongly criticized BMW's alleged conduct, stating, 'It's shameless how BMW misled both the inspection bodies and consumers.' She added, 'The company must take responsibility. We want BMW to compensate the consumers it misled.'
Demands for Recall and Compensation
The plaintiffs are seeking two primary outcomes from the lawsuit. Firstly, they demand that BMW recall and refit all affected vehicles to ensure they comply with legal emissions regulations in practice, without negatively impacting their performance or increasing fuel consumption. Secondly, the organizations are pushing for compensation for all current and former owners who unknowingly purchased cars fitted with the alleged fraudulent software.
Guido van Woerkom, chairman of the Car Claim Foundation, emphasized the groups' willingness to find a resolution, stating, 'Although we have initiated legal proceedings, we continue to urge BMW to engage in discussions to reach a fair solution together.'
BMW's Response and Broader 'Dieselgate' Context
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for BMW stated that the company learned of the legal action through media reports and had not yet been formally served. Consequently, BMW indicated it did not know the full scope of the specific allegations.
This case marks another chapter in the ongoing 'Dieselgate' emissions scandal that first emerged in 2015 with Volkswagen. While BMW was fined 8.5 million euros in Germany in 2019 for diesel cars exceeding emissions limits, prosecutors at the time attributed the infraction to an error rather than intentional deception.
5 Comments
Karamba
This lawsuit is absolutely necessary for environmental protection and consumer rights.
Matzomaster
It's crucial for vehicles to meet environmental standards, but forcing recalls and refits could negatively affect vehicle performance or fuel economy, creating new problems for owners.
Kyle Broflovski
Good! Consumers deserve compensation and truly clean vehicles.
Stan Marsh
Are they sure it's deception or just a technicality in testing parameters?
Eric Cartman
The consumer groups are right to demand transparency, but BMW claims they haven't seen the full allegations yet. We need to hear both sides before passing final judgment on intent.