VW Shells Out the Big Bucks on Car Technology
» Posted November 30, 2018 • Resources | Share This Post
Volkswagen plans to spend $50 billion in the next five years to develop a range of technology, in a push to develop its fleet of self-driving vehicles and electronic cars.
The goal of what CEO Herbert Diess calls an “electric offensive” is to compete with companies like Tesla by rolling out as many as 50 new electric vehicle models by 2025. The company also wants to put behind it lingering questions about its cars’ fuel emissions.
The effort comes as VW is still trying to turn the page on an emissions cheating snafu that rocked the auto industry. The U.S. Environment Protection Agency in 2015 caught VW deliberately misrepresenting emissions information about diesel vehicles and tricking systems to give false reads. The fall out cost the company $25 billion.
The company is also converting three plants in Germany to prepare for the move to electric cars.
Legal Protections for Los Angeles Car Owners
Although VW’s investment shows the company is getting serious about electric and driverless vehicles, its recent past gives car buyers good reason to be skeptical. Just because a car maker says the vehicle is up to snuff doesn’t mean the vehicle operates as advertised.
That’s where the California lemon law comes in. The law obligates manufacturers to take responsibility for defective cars. It puts the burden on the car maker to fix the vehicle or compensate the owner in certain cases.
The law requires car makers to repair various defects and other problems with the vehicle while it’s under warranty. If those efforts don’t work, the manufacturer is required to compensate the owner for the purchase price and/or down payment and financing charges, as well as other expenses like car rentals, towing and repair costs. The manufacturer may also offer to replace the car instead.
The law applies to both new and used cars, if repair attempts happen during the vehicle’s warranty period. The number of repair attempts required for the law to kick in depends on the situation.
How an Experienced Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney Can Help You
If you’re a California car owner who’s stuck with a lemon, it’s important that you consult an experienced lawyer to consider your rights and options. The Los Angeles Lemon Law lawyers at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. We understand the significant stress that can come with haggling with car dealers and manufacturers. Our lawyers work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
