Australian car owners have launched their second class action lawsuit against Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda for equipping vehicles with emissions-rigging software.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filed a class action in the Federal Court on Thursday against the German car manufacturer, which following a similar case opened by Sydney-based firm Bannister Law in late October.

The vehicles of an estimated 91,000 Australians were affected by the emissions scandal, which saw ‘defeat devices’ fitted to the engines of its cars, a mechanism that automatically altered the emissions mode when it detected the car was undergoing an emissions test.

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Maurice Blackburn class actions principal, Jason Geisker, said their claim sought the maximum entitlements permitted under Australian law, extending beyond a full refund under consumer protection law.

“Well over 10,000 people have already registered with us for this class action,” he said in a statement.

“It’s been really clear to our expert legal team in dealing with affected motorists that efficiently bringing VW to account, without giving up on any of their entitlements, is of significant concern.”

The claim would also cover affected Skoda and Audi high-emission diesel vehicles that were fitted with emissions defeat devices before being sold.

“There is a lot of anger out there from motorists who feel betrayed,” Mr Geisker said.

“It’s only because we have a fully-functioning and effective class actions regime in Australia that these thousands of people can pursue some accountability and justice by banding together.

“It would be commercially impossible to bring these claims individually against such a large well-resourced organisation.”

Earlier this month, an external probe from VW found that a further 800,000 vehicles emitted more greenhouse C02 than it had earlier reported.

In October, the German automotive giant lost $2.6 billion in its third-quarter and it also issued a full-year profit warning.

It is believed this is due to the cost of repairing faulty diesel-powered cars.

– with reporting by Anthony Colangelo