Proposed Volkswagen class action could expand to involve gas-powered cars

A proposed class-action lawsuit centred on diesel-powered Volkswagen models that is seeking more than $1 billion in damages could be expanded to involve some gas-powered models.

In September, a Canadian law firm announced its involvement in a proposed class action lawsuit stemming from Volkswagen's admission that it had rigged emissions tests for some of its diesel-powered cars.

• Volkswagen says more gasoline engines had emissions cheat device

• Windsor law firm launches $1B class-action suit against Volkswagen

Lawyers at Sutts, Strosberg LLP told reporters in Windsor, Ont., on Tuesday that an investigation taking place in Germany now has elements that involve some of the automaker's gas-powered vehicle products.

And if those models were sold in Canada, they may get added to the proposed class action.

"Our firm is presently investigating the extent to which Canadian owners of Volkswagen gasoline-powered vehicles will be affected by the information derived from the ongoing investigation," said lawyer Myron Shulgan, when speaking with reporters at the law firm's Windsor office on Tuesday afternoon.

Shulgan said the proposed class action currently involves people who bought diesel-powered Volkswagen vehicles since 2009.

But Shulgan said, "We have not been able to determine to what extent gas-powered vehicles imported into Canada suffer from suppressed test results."

S. Alex Constantin, a fellow lawyer at Sutts, Strosberg LLP, said hundreds of Canadians have made contact with the lawyers involved in the existing proposed class action.