MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A federal judge has reportedly given preliminary approval of a multibillion dollar settlement following a Volkswagen emissions scandal uncovered by WVU researchers.
An Associated Press story indicated U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in California was complimentary of a $14.7 billion settlement following studies that proved some Volkswagen vehicles were emitting 10 to 40 times more nitrogen oxide than the allowable limit.
The settlement includes $10 billion in expenditures by the company to repair or buy back 475,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles with falsely advertised emissions rates.
According to the AP, “The settlement also includes $2.7 billion for unspecified environmental mitigation and an additional $2 billion to promote zero-emissions vehicles.”
Because of Tuesday’s decisions, vehicle owners will be advised of the terms of the settlement and their options for compensation.
A final decision could come in October.
The WVU Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions results, which had been discovered five years ago, started to get national and international attention in 2015.