State to Get $35 Million from Volkswagen Settlement

CONCORD, NH – The state of New Hampshire is expected to get as much as $35 million from Volkswagen Group as part of a multi-state, nearly $15 billion class action suit.

The second largest motor vehicle manufacturing company in the world agreed to the settlement after consumers complained that mileage standards did not meet advertised levels. It was later found that the company tampered with software that could differentiate between government testing and normal driving, according to reports. During normal driving, the software turned off its emission control device to increase mileage performance – but when doing so, the vehicles released more than 35 times nitrogen oxide levels than government testing.

“In total, Volkswagen will pay New Hampshire approximately $6.1 million to settle Consumer Protection Act violations, up to $29 million in environmental mitigation, and many millions to fix or buy back impacted vehicles,” according to K. Allen Brooks, a senior assistant attorney general. “Volkswagen will also pay an amount to consumers for restitution.”

More than 43 jurisdictions were involved in the suit. According to the findings, VW tampered with emissions control devices on about 575,000 vehicles. More than 5,000 of those vehicles – VW, Audi, and Porsche – were leased or purchased in the Granite State.

The company – which specializes in diesel vehicles – also committed to investing $2 billion to develop cars that produce no pollution, as well as other monies for consumer protection, investigatory work, and environmental penalties.

“The fraud perpetrated by Volkswagen and its affiliated companies is among the worst we have seen,” said Joseph Foster, the state’s attorney general offered in a statement. “The deception spanned multiple companies, vehicle models, and emissions systems. It clearly shows a corporate culture designed to mislead consumers and regulators while disregarding health and environmental concerns for the sake of profits. These settlements will hopefully convince other manufacturers to play by the rules.”