Settlement approval marks pivotal threshold in VW recovery

Volkswagen's efforts to put the defeat device scandal behind it have taken an important step forward. Final court approval has come through on three key US settlements: one with private plaintiffs on civil claims in a class action suit, one with the US Department of Justice on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and one with the Federal trade Commission. All three relate to models with 2.0-litre TDI engines. Agreements were previously announced for each of the three groups but hinged on approval by Judge Charles Breyer of the US District Court for the Northern District of California. This has now been confirmed.