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Volkswagen's main plant in Wolfsburg: Claims by U.S. authorities
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / DPA
The German carmaker Volkswagen and its subsidiary Audi have apparently agreed to pay $85 million in damages with the US state of Texas as part of the diesel fraud scandal. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement on Thursday that the companies have agreed in principle to the agreement. "If a company thinks it can evade responsibility by violating Texas law, endangering Texans, and polluting our environment, it's completely wrong. Volkswagen and Audi figured it out the hard way and now they're paying the price."
Earlier this month, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the state's environmental lawsuit against Volkswagen and Audi can continue. Volkswagen has so far declined to comment on the case. The company had previously settled the lawsuits in the U.S. triggered by the emissions scandal for more than $20 billion. However, courts have ruled that this does not protect the Wolfsburg-based company from continuing to be held accountable by local and state authorities.
mik/Reuters