Volkswagen has reached an agreement with US authorities for a mix of buybacks and fixes concerning around 83,000 diesel vehicles, equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 and the infamous software that allowed them to emit up to nine times over the limits.
More specifically, the German company agreed to recall and fix 63,000 of these vehicles and to buy back and lease termination or modify (if approved) the remaining 20,000 vehicles.
VW also agreed to pay $225 million into an environmental trust in order to offset diesel excess emissions from the affected vehicles and $25 million to support the use of zero emissions vehicles in California.
The company also agreed to add to its range at least three electric vehicles by 2020 in California, including an SUV, and must sell an average of 5,000 EVs annually.
“The agreement announced by the Court today between Volkswagen and U.S. environmental regulators is another important step forward in our efforts to make things right for our customers, and we support the efforts of the Court to bring about a fair and reasonable resolution of remaining 3.0L TDI V6 claims as quickly as possible,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
“We are committed to earning back the trust of all our stakeholders and thank our customers and dealers in the United States for their patience as the process moves forward.”
According to the official statement, VW will take the following actions:
Recall approximately 63,000 affected 2013-2016 Model Year Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche 3.0L TDI V6 vehicles with so-called Generation 2 engines to bring them into compliance with the emissions standards to which they were certified, if appropriate modifications are approved by EPA and CARB. If Volkswagen is unable to meet this requirement, it will offer to buy back or terminate the leases of these vehicles and may also seek approval by EPA and CARB to offer customers a modification to substantially reduce their nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
Buy back or terminate the leases of approximately 20,000 affected 2009-2012 Model Year Volkswagen and Audi 3.0L TDI V6 vehicles with so-called Generation 1 engines or, if approved by EPA and CARB, modify the vehicles to substantially reduce their NOx emissions so as to allow eligible owners and lessees to keep them.
The terms of this agreement will be effective and final only after approval by the Court, which is expected to come at the earliest during the spring of 2017. Until then, affected 3.0-litre TDI V6 owners do not need to take any action and they can visit VW’s special site for more information.