Winnipeg Volkswagen diesel car owner shocked by emissions scandal

A Winnipeg man who owns a Volkswagen diesel car says he has lost confidence in the German automaker over its emissions scandal.

Kevin Lopuck, who has owned two Volkswagen vehicles, said he currently drives a 2011 Jetta TDI diesel car that he bought under the belief that it was an environmentally responsible vehicle.

But his confidence in Volkswagen was shaken after revelations surfaced late last week that the automaker had rigged emissions tests for diesel cars sold in the U.S.

"It's just so deceitful," he told CBC News on Thursday.

"You never really think that a company is going to take you for a ride like this, and they really did."

It was revealed that Volkswagen had installed software in its vehicles to help them perform well in emissions tests, even though the results were not reflective of actual performance on the road.

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Volkswagen has said 11 million cars globally had the software fitted, but it was not activated in the bulk of them. As well as the cost of regulatory fines and potentially refitting cars, Volkswagen faces criminal investigations and lawsuits from cheated customers and possibly shareholders.

Lopuck said before buying the Jetta TDI he had another Jetta that was gasoline-run. He said he bought the diesel car because it was good on mileage, which he needs since he works in Selkirk.

As for what he'll do next, Lopuck said he is thinking about possibly joining a class-action lawsuit against Volkswagen. He believes the automaker must break its silence on what it will do for its customers.

"It will be troubling for me to go back and buy another one. At this point, I'm kind of stuck because I can't sell the car," he said.