Volkswagen Avoids Consumer Probe in U.K. Over Emissions Scandal
- Competition watchdog will not use new consumer powers
- No criminal probe because misconduct took place in Germany
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The U.K.’s antitrust watchdog said it won’t pursue Volkswagen AG for admitting the use of software to cheat vehicle emissions tests, joining European regulators in being more reluctant to extract concessions from the carmaker than counterparts in the U.S.
The Competition and Markets Authority won’t launch a formal probe into the Wolfsburg-based company “at this time” because new powers enabling it to secure compensation for consumers only came into power in October last year, a month after the allegations emerged, the regulator said in an e-mailed statement Monday.