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Automobile giant Volkswagen has been fined €1bn (£880m) by means of German prosecutors over its diesel emissions scandal.
The Braunschweig public prosecutor found VW had sold greater than 10 million vehicles between mid-2007 and 2015 that had emissions-take a look at-cheating software installed.
The automotive company mentioned it didn’t plan to enchantment against the high quality.
VW said it had admitted “its accountability for the diesel obstacle”.
The positive is one in every of the top ever imposed by German government towards a company.
Analysis: By Means Of Theo Leggett, trade correspondent
How severe is this for Volkswagen?
Neatly, it’s a large positive – €1bn is not a small sum. nevertheless it pales into insignificance compared with the fines and repayment the gang has needed to pay out within the US – which add as much as well over €20bn
If this puts an end to legal complaints in Europe, VW may well assume it’s a fairly small worth to pay. the company has constantly denied that the device suited to its automobiles used to be if truth be told illegal under Eu regulation. Nevertheless, it is going to welcome the disappearance of that exact criminal threat.
VW does nonetheless face a host of civil lawsuits, brought by disgruntled automobile homeowners and shareholders. it’s not clear yet what impact VW’s admission of “accountability for the diesel drawback” could have on those lawsuits.
However for the moment, it is conceivable to assume fits in Wolfsburg respiring a heavy sigh of relief. it will had been worse.
the whole price of the scandal has been so much upper. VW has set aside $30bn to pay for its US bill, which incorporates solving vehicles, buying again cars, clean air fines, penalties and compensation.
The Volkswagen scandal erupted in September 2015, while the corporate admitted that just about SIX HUNDRED,000 vehicles offered in the US were outfitted with “defeat units” designed to bypass emissions tests.
Since then it has emerged that VW put in emissions-dishonest software in nearly ELEVEN million cars world wide.
