German automaker Volkswagen and its subsidiary Audi have apparently agreed to pay $85 million in damages to the state of Texas over the diesel fraud scandal.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement that the companies agreed to the settlement in principle. “If a company thinks it can avoid liability for breaking Texas law, putting Texans in harm’s way and polluting our environment, it is dead wrong. Volkswagen and Audi found this out the hard way and are now paying the price. ”.
Earlier this month, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the state’s environmental lawsuit against Volkswagen and Audi can proceed. Volkswagen has so far declined to comment on the case. The company had already settled the US lawsuits triggered by the emissions scandal for more than $20 billion. However, as the courts have ruled, this does not protect VW from continuing to be held accountable by state and local authorities.