By Amanda Antell  |  November 24, 2017

Category: Consumer News

Volkswagen VW sales commissions salesman car salesThe VW diesel scandal has impacted numerous individuals across the country, with consumers finding their cars suddenly devalued and VW employees losing significant income due to loss of sales.

In particular, Volkswagen sales representative employees are losing out on vital commission payments, which are their main source of compensation. Even though the VW diesel scandal was announced in 2015, the company was performing strongly the year previously with Volkswagen’s revenue totaling $221 million from 10.4 million vehicles sold around the world.

Sales were almost as strong the next year, with $215 million in revenue providing Volkswagen sales representative employees and other industry workers sustainable financial income.

However, everything changed for the company when the VW diesel scandal broke, with car sales decreasing significantly. In fact, the car company halted sales of its diesel vehicles.

According to a Bloomberg report in July 2016, VW vehicles sales fell by 22% during what was reportedly the eighth consecutive month that Volkswagen sales representative employees experienced a decline in sales.

Due to the fact that Volkswagen sales representative employees are paid almost entirely on commission, these sales losses were devastating to their income. It has been alleged that Volkswagen allegedly knew the VW diesel scandal was coming as far back as 2014, but the company did not disclose this to their employees.

A class action lawsuit has been recently filed against Volkswagen, alleging their Volkswagen sales representative employees were severely harmed in financial damages due to the VW diesel scandal.

Overview of VW Diesel Scandal Impact

News of the VW diesel scandal broke in 2015, when it was revealed Volkswagen used a “defeat device” in the software of its cars to reduce exhaust emissions only during testing phases. These testing phases were supposed to simulate normal driving situations, in which typical diesel exhaust was expected.

These defeat devices work by identifying the driving conditions the car is being tested under, then producing an appropriate amount of diesel exhaust. These mechanisms are described as “clean diesel” techniques, with these defeat devices concealing the fact that during actual driving, the cars were producing diesel exhaust amounts well above the legal limit.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent a Notice of Violation letter to Volkswagen of America dated Sept. 18, 2015, stating that nearly 500,000 Volkswagen vehicles sold in America. These cars reportedly emitted as much as 40 times more emissions than permitted under the Clean Air Act.

Volkswagen has since admitted that 11 million cars are affected by the VW diesel scandal.

Volkswagen even admitted there was “a notable deviation between bench test results and actual road use” in the affected vehicles, which include certain vehicles manufactured by Audi and Porsche. Cars affected by the VW diesel scandal include but are not limited to:

  • 2009-2015 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI
  • 2010-2015 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI
  • 2010-2015 Audi A3 w.0L TDI
  • 2012-2015 Volkswagen Beetle 2.0L TDI
  • 2012-2015 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L TDI
  • 2014 Volkswagen Touareg 3.0L V-6 TDI
  • 2015 Porsche Cayenne Diesel 3.0L V-6
  • 2016 Audi A6 3.0L V-6 TDI
  • 2016 Audi A7 3.0L V-6 TDI
  • 2016 Audi A8L 3.0L V-6 TDI
  • 2016 Audi Q5 3.0L V-6 TDI

Join a Free Volkswagen Sales Commissions Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you worked as a Volkswagen sales representative when the VW dieselgate scandal broke and you saw a drop in your commissioned sales, you may qualify to join this VW sales representative class action lawsuit investigation.

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