US COURT UPHOLDS VW DIESELGATE SETTLEMENT

SAN FRANCISCO: A US appeals court on Monday upheld a US$10.03 billion (RM42 billion) settlement for Volkswagen owners affected by the German carmaker’s “Dieselgate” emissions cheating scandal. The panel of judges in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal in California ruled that the settlement “delivered tangible, substantial benefits to class members” and was “fair and adequate.” The settlement covers the recalls and repairs of nearly 500,000 diesel vehicles in the US that were fitted with software to manipulate emissions tests. Volkswagen has agreed to a comprehensive compensation package under which it will buy back affected vehicles, agree to end leases, or, where possible, remove the cheating software. – dpa