VW settles Australia emissions cheating scandal

Volkswagen has agreed to pay up to Aus$127 million ($87.3 million) to settle multiple class action suits brought by Australian motorists over a diesel emissions cheating scandal, the parties’ lawyers said yesterday. The German car giant, which owns brands ranging from luxury Audi to lower-end Skoda, said in 2015 that 11 million diesel engines globally were affected.

Owners of about 100,000 Australian cars will be able to seek compensation from Volkswagen under the terms of the in-principle agreement, which the automaker has agreed to without admitting liability and must still be approved by the Federal Court.

“This is an important step in providing a measure of justice and redress to the thousands of Australian motorists who claim they were financially impacted by the diesel emissions issue,” said Julian Schimmel, principal lawyer of Maurice Blackburn, the firm behind one of the class actions.