$157 million Volkswagen emissions-cheating settlement will benefit Washington

DETROIT – Volkswagen is paying more than $157 million to 10 states - including Washington - to settle environmental lawsuits over the company’s diesel emissions-cheating scandal.

In addition to Washington, the company says the money will go to Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. All 10 states follow California’s clean air standards.

The settlement covers 3-Liter six-cylinder diesel engines and is separate from a $603 million agreement reached last year with 44 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico that covered 2-liter engines.

Volkswagen has admitted to programming its diesel engines to activate pollution controls during government treadmill tests and turning them off for roadway driving.

VW has paid out more than $20 billion to buy back or repair cars and pay criminal and civil fines and legal settlements related to the scandal.