Skoda Auto India ordered by consumer court to pay Rs. 20.17 lakhs as damages for selling a faulty Superb

Skoda Auto India Private Limited, an acclaimed Czech luxury car maker, has been chided by the Delhi State Consumer Commission and ordered to pay one of its customers a hefty amount as damage redressal for selling a faulty car. Skoda Auto has been ordered by the consumer forum to pay a sum of Rs. 20.17 lakhs (consisting of Rs. 2.5 lakhs for covering damages) as compensation to Viney Sagar Sahgal for his manufacturing defects laden Skoda Superb bought in 2005.

Skoda Auto India ordered by consumer court to pay Rs. 20.17 lakhs

As per reports, Sahgal had bought the Skoda Superb executive sedan for a sum of Rs. 22,98,375 lakhs in 2005 and was bugged from day 1, because of the car's umpteen manufacturing defects. Sahgal had never been satisfied by the performance and maintenance requirements of his Superb, which was regularly facing issues, such as stalling of engine, air conditioning problems and frequent brake failures amongst others. Reportedly, the car was taken for servicing and repairs 33 times, which came in handy for Sahgal's firm stance against Skoda Auto India in the consumer court. The Delhi State Consumer Commission has directed Sahgal to return his Superb back to the company, as and when he receives the amount. Further, the bereaved customer filed the complaint against Skoda Auto in 2008 and the process took four years for the final decision.

The jury bench consisted of presiding member Salma Noor and judicial member V. K. Gupta, was reported as saying, “It is clear that the vehicle purchased in April 2005 and had covered 16,000 km was taken 33 times to the service station within two years for having defects, of course some of them are manufacturing, for which parts were replaced by opposite party (Skoda) and complainant (buyer) had to incur an expenditure of Rs. 1,65,000. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances... we direct opposite parties (Skoda and its dealer) to jointly and severely refund Rs. 17.67 lakhs as price of the vehicle to complainant and Rs. 2.5 lakhs as compensation for harassment and including litigation cost.”