Lawyers have hailed a landmark legal ruling against Volkswagen over the emissions scandal - saying millions could now be paid to Scots drivers.
The car maker suffered a major blow today as Germany's highest civil court ruled that it must pay compensation to anyone who bought vehicles with manipulated diesel engines.
Glasgow -based Thomsons Solicitors have taken up the case of around 1,600 drivers, they say the largest case of its kind in Scottish history, who are also taking legal action against the firm.
The latest ruling comes about five years after the international scandal where Volkswagen were found to have cheated in emissions tests on diesel engines.
The German verdict also paves the way for around 60,000 lawsuits in the country and the the company has already paid billions in fines across the world.
Patrick McGuire a partner with Thompsons Solicitors said compensation would run into the millions.
He said: “This is a devastating judgment from the supreme civil court in VW’s homeland.
"There is now no longer any excuse for VW and their highly paid legal defence team to deny justice to the thousands of Scottish consumers they have deceived and defrauded."
Mr McGuire added: "Following the judgement earlier this year at the UK Supreme Court VW were already on borrowed time but now they’re at the end of the line. The continued contempt VW’s legal position is showing towards Scottish consumers must end now.
“My legal team now have little doubt that this case, which is the largest in Scottish history, will be a successful one for consumers who will receive financial compensation.
"Given the amount of claims involved the total payout will be many millions of pounds. I would urge anyone who has not joined Thompsons class action to get in touch with us now as by the end of June it will no longer possible to take on new clients.”
A Volkswagen spokesman said: "While we are aware of Thompsons Solicitors, no claim has yet been issued against the Volkswagen Group in Scotland. We are disappointed that Thompsons has published an inaccurate statement presumably in order to recruit clients.
"The Volkswagen Group has consistently said that there is no legal basis for any claims in Scotland. Scottish customers, like others in the UK, have not suffered any loss or damage as a result of the NOx issue. The Volkswagen Group will defend itself robustly throughout the course of any action in Scotland - if they are commenced, which they have not yet."
