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Volkswagen reaches $US1.2bn settlement

A settlement deal points to Volkswagen agreeing to pay its US dealers up to $US1.2 billion for losses as a result of the company's emissions cheating scandal.

Volkswagen
Volkswagen will pull out of the world rally championship at the end of the current season. (AAP)

Volkswagen has agreed to pay its US dealers up to $US1.2 billion ($A1.6 billion) to compensate them for losses they said they suffered as a result of the company's emissions cheating scandal, according to a settlement agreement filed on Friday in federal court in San Francisco.

Under the terms of the deal, dealers can choose to opt out and pursue their own lawsuits against Volkswagen. A judge still has to approve the settlement before it can go into effect.

Volkswagen previously reached an agreement with attorneys for car owners. That deal calls for it to spend up to $US10 billion buying back or repairing about 475,000 vehicles involved in its scandal and paying their owners an additional $US5,100 to $US10,000 each.

Details about the vehicle repairs have not been finalised.

Attorneys for vehicle owners said in a court filing on Friday that more than 311,000 people have registered for the deal and less than 3300 people have opted out.

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"There is resounding support for this consumer class settlement and the substantial benefits it provides,'' Elizabeth Cabraser, lead attorney for Volkswagen owners, said in a statement.

The settlement also includes $US2.7 billion for unspecified environmental mitigation and an additional $US2 billion to promote zero-emissions vehicles.

US District Court Judge Charles Breyer gave the deal preliminary approval in July, and he is expected to make a final decision on October 18.

The deal does not cover about 85,000 more-powerful Volkswagens and Audis with 3-litre engines also caught up in the emissions scandal.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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