BERLIN (AP) — German auto giant Volkswagen agreed Friday to pay $912 million in damages to hundreds of thousands of customers whose diesel cars were outfitted with software to manipulate emissions readings.
The settlement offer was negotiated with Germany's consumer protection group VZBV, and Volkswagen called it "fair compensation." The offer amounts to about 15% of the purchase price of the car, and payments range from between $1,485-$6,882.
It will now be up to some 260,000 customers who had sued Volkswagen in Germany, arguing their cars had lost value due to the emission cheating scandal, to accept the offer or to proceed on their own to try and sue for more.
In 2015, U.S. regulators caught Volkswagen using software that turned emissions controls off once the car had passed emissions tests. The company has paid out more than $33 billion in fines, settlements and recalls.
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
