In the past years, as you may remember, Volkswagen Group had a lot of trouble with its diesel engines. According to the outcome of the lawsuit, the company paid the required penalty and provided new cars to its customers. However, it seems like the effects of the lawsuit have not completely subsided. A new decision has been made by Texas courts. Here are the details regarding the penalty Volkswagen received in Texas…
Volkswagen and Audi fined $85 million in Texas!
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the German automakers Volkswagen Group and Audi will be penalized for violating environmental laws. Paxton stated that both companies are expected to pay a penalty of $85 million due to illegal emission values.
The penalty is considerably lower compared to the initial fine they received in the United States, which was $20 billion. However, when we compare the Texas court’s decision with interstate decisions, it is evident that $85 million is still a significant blow. A statement was requested from the brands.
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Volkswagen and Audi declined the offer to make a statement and did not comment on the matter. Paxton, in his statement, said, “If a company thinks they can evade accountability when violating Texas laws, endangering Texans, and polluting our environment, they are completely mistaken. Volkswagen and Audi are learning this the hard way and now paying the price.”
In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to using sophisticated software to deceive emission requirements in approximately 11 million vehicles worldwide. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which began investigating the issue in 2014, also made statements.
This recent penalty means that VW and Audi are once again being punished for emission cheating. It is expected that these companies might face penalties in different states in the future. So, it is too early to say that the case is over within the United States.
Emission cheating is considered a serious problem in the automotive industry. These scandals emerged when companies used deceptive software to meet low emission standards. This situation not only has environmental impacts but also undermines consumer trust and puts significant pressure on car manufacturers.
