VW has bought, fixed over 50% of polluting cars

WASHINGTON: Volkswagen AG says it has bought back or repaired more than half of 475 000 polluting 2.0-litre diesel vehicles under a US government settlement, just six months after it launched the largest-yet automotive repurchase offer.

The world’s largest carmaker said in a letter to a US judge overseeing the settlement that as of Wednesday, it had repurchased or terminated leases on nearly 238 000 vehicles and repaired 6 200 after it admitted in 2015 to secretly installing software that let vehicles emit up to 40 times legally allowable pollution levels.

Under the agreement, Volkswagen must buy back or repair at least 85% of the vehicles by 2019 or face additional penalties.

Last month, VW pleaded guilty to fraud, obstruction of justice and falsifying statements as part of a $4.3 billion (R57.51bn) settlement with the US Justice Department.

The company is to be sentenced to three years of probation by a federal judge in Detroit on Friday.

Under a plea agreement, the car maker must make reforms. It also faces oversight by a yet to be named independent monitor.

The September 2015 disclosure that VW had intentionally cheated on emissions tests for at least six years led to the ouster of its chief executive, damaged the company’s reputation around the world and prompted massive bills.

In total, VW has agreed to spend up to $25bn in the US to address claims from owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers, and offered to buy back about 500 000 polluting US vehicles.

It agreed last year to spend up to $10.03bn to buy back the polluting 2.0litre vehicles. In February, VW said it had spent $2.9bn on buy-backs.

A federal judge granted preliminary approval last month to a plan for Volkswagen to pay at least $1.22bn to fix or buy back a separate group of polluting vehicles – nearly 80 000 3.0-litre diesel vehicles, including some Porsche, Audi and VW SUVs.

VW has offered to buy back 20 000 of them, but could have to repurchase others if regulators do not approve fixes.

The 3.0-litre vehicles have an undeclared auxiliary emissions system that allowed them to emit up to nine times allowable limits.

A judge will hold a May 11 hearing on whether to grant final approval to the 3.0litre settlement. – Reuters

VOLKSWAGEN MUST BUY BACK OR REPAIR AT LEAST 85% OF THE VEHICLES BY 2019