Volkswagen and Audi have agreed to an $85 million (€79 million) settlement in principle for violating Texas laws during the diesel emissions scandal, Attorney General Ken Paxton said Thursday.
The German car giant Volkswagen owns several car brands, including Audi.
The settlement stems from the diesel emissions scandal that has embroiled the company in lawsuits for nearly a decade since news broke in 2015.
Device that manipulates emissions
The German carmaker fits the cars it sells in the US and Europe with a device to manipulate emissions tests between 2006 and 2015.
Volkswagen has recalled about 11 million vehicles worldwide and paid billions in settlements for fraud and violation of rules and regulations.
The automotive giant settled the actions in the US federal court to the tune of $ 20 billion previously, but that does not protect the company from the liability of the local and state government, as the courts have previously ordered.
Attorney General Paxton said in a statement:“If a company thinks they can avoid accountability when they break Texas laws, endanger Texans, and pollute our environment, they’re wrong.”
“Volkswagen and Audi found that out the hard way, and now they’re paying the price,” he added.
Edited by: John Silk