In St. Petersburg, two residents were detained on charges of fraud after they disabled an Audi vehicle and sought 43 million rubles from the automaker, arguing that the incident constituted a manufacturing defect. The report from Ministry of Internal Affairs Media summarized the case as it unfolded, illustrating a dispute that drew attention to alleged vulnerabilities in a luxury brand’s localized market services.
The two defendants, whose actions raised questions about the integrity of consumer claims, reportedly carried out the modification two years prior. They had purchased a 2016 Audi from an official distributor in St. Petersburg. At the time of purchase, the vehicle was under warranty and described as mechanically sound. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the accused used specialized devices to disable the rear seat switch block, a modification that could alter the car’s safety and comfort features without obvious external signs.
In their court petition, the defendants framed the incident as a defect originating in manufacturing rather than a result of tampering. They sought damages totaling 43 million rubles, including the vehicle’s estimated cost of 3.5 million rubles, plus penalties and compensation for non-pecuniary harm. Investigators noted that two of the detained individuals had prior fraud convictions, one of whom was a lawyer. They allegedly collaborated with other unnamed participants to devise a scheme to defraud the automaker.
The initial ruling by the trial court favored the plaintiff; however, this decision was overturned by a higher court in July 2023 following an appeal from Audi. As part of the broader criminal investigation into fraud, authorities conducted 23 searches connected to the case. The legal process underscored the tension between consumer claims and corporate responses in the luxury automobile sector, especially when alleged issues intersect with warranty protections and post-purchase modifications.
In a related incident from the same region, three men in the Leningrad area became involved in a confrontation over a Toyota Camry that was parked on the grass, highlighting ongoing disputes around vehicle ownership, parking etiquette, and the boundaries of permissible conduct in public spaces. This episode illustrates broader concerns about how vehicle owners and brands manage expectations and disputes in varied municipal contexts. (Ministry of Internal Affairs Media)