SACRAMENTO – (INT) – A federal court has approved the $14.7 billion settlement with Volkswagen over its “defeat device” software to bypass emissions controls in its 2.0 liter diesel vehicles.

As part of the agreement, approved Tuesday, Volkswagen will spend approximately $10 billion to buy back or modify vehicles on which “defeat devices” were installed.

It will also pay $2.7 billion into a trust to support environmental programs and reduce emissions plus an additional $2 billion on investments and promotion of zero emissions vehicles.

In addition to providing consumer relief funding, California will receive $1.18 billion, representing more than one-quarter of the funding VW must provide for environmental projects in states injured by the company's conduct and investments it must make in zero emission technology.

“Curbing emissions is vital to protecting our planet for future generations and the deceit Volkswagen practiced in pursuit of profit is unconscionable,” California Attorney General Kamala Harris said.

VW admitted in September 2015 that it installed
"defeat devices" that altered the operation of emissions control equipment in light-duty, 2.0-liter passenger vehicles manufactured and sold between model years 2009 and 2015. There are approximately a half-million of the vehicles in the US and about 71,000 in California.

Story Date: October 30, 2016