Volkswagen to pay $1.5 million over claims in New Hampshire, Montana

Volkswagen on Monday said it has agreed to pay $1.5 million for resolving environmental claims with the states of New Hampshire and Montana over updates of emissions software emerging from the 2015 diesel cheating scandal.

The settlements, about $280 per vehicle, are a small fraction of what the states initially sought. The automaker and several courts earlier cited astronomical figures as a maximum liability the German automaker faces over the issue of whether states can enforce emissions laws concerning updates to emissions software after the vehicles were sold.

The automaker will pay New Hampshire $1.15 million and it vowed to build another high-speed charging station in the state by 2024. The automaker has agreed to pay Montana $357,280.

New Hampshire had sought up to $25,000 per automobile per day and Montana sought up to $10,000 per violation per day. The settlements with the two states announced Monday concern about 5,500 vehicles.

Three remaining states – Illinois, Ohio, and Texas – and two counties – Hillsborough County, Florida, and Salt Lake County, Utah – have filed suit that concerns about 47,000 vehicles.

If the other states and counties settled for $280 per vehicle, the total would be just $13 million.

Volkswagen earlier settled U.S. actions prompted by the emissions scandal for more than $30 billion, but that did not protect it from local and state government liability, an appeals court determined.