VW settles with 10 states for $157M

Volkswagen will pay more than $157 million to settle lawsuits from 10 states stemming from its emissions testing scandal. 

The states sued VW last year on environmental grounds, challenging the automaker’s use of secret software that allowed certain vehicles to skirt emissions limits. 

In a statement, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called the scheme “an extraordinarily cynical corporate fraud.”

{mosads}“Volkswagen was caught — and today’s settlement means we’ve now held them to full account,” said Schneiderman, whose state will receive $32.5 million from the company. 

“The companies are already paying billions of dollars in consumer relief, environmental mitigation funds and criminal and civil penalties as a result of our earlier state, federal and private settlements. Now, this state environmental penalty makes clear that no company — however large or powerful — is above the law in New York.”

Thursday’s development is the latest in a line of settlements and legal decisions involving VW as a result of the emissions scandal. 

The company pled guilty in federal court earlier this month to three felony counts stemming from the emissions cheating, which was unveiled by regulators in late 2015. 

As part of the settlement, the company agreed to overhaul its operations and be subject to new audits.  At least six current and former executives face criminal charges as well.

VW agreed to pay $4.3 billion to settle civil and criminal fines in the United States. It will also pay more than $20 billion to settle claims from drivers, dealers and others.