VW Reaches $1B Settlement for 3.0L Diesels
Volkswagen has reached an agreement to settle claims relating to its 3.0L V-6 TDI engines with a commitment to buy back a quarter of the vehicles, set aside $225 million toward emissions reduction, and pay $25 million to support the use of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in California.

Photo courtesy of VW.

Photo courtesy of VW.
Volkswagen has reached an agreement to settle claims relating to its 3.0L V-6 TDI engines with a commitment to buy back a quarter of the vehicles, set aside $225 million toward emissions reduction, and pay $25 million to support the use of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in California.
The settlement, which is still pending final approval, is expected to cost Volkswagen $1 billion, reports the Associated Press. In October, Volkswagen agreed to settle claims around its 2.0L engine for $14.7 billion.
The Dec. 20 settlement covers about 83,000 Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche vehicles. About 20,000 vehicles would be eligible for buy-backs, and Volkswagen has said it could bring 63,000 vehicles into compliance.
Volkswagen will also pay $225 million to an environmental trust that was set up as part of the earlier settlement. In October, Volkswagen agreed to contribute $2.7 billion to the trust. About $41 million will go to the California Air Resource Board (CARB), according to the board.
And lastly, Volkswagen will provide $25 million to CARB by July 1. The money will be used to expand initiatives such as replace-and-upgrade programs for heavy polluting vehicles in disadvantaged communities and the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project that provides rebates and financial assistance for purchasing ZEVs.
Vehicles covered by the 3.0L settlement include 2009 to 2016 model-year Touareg, 2009- to 2015-MY Audi Q7 and 2013- to 2016-MY Porsche Cayenne Diesel. Other models include 2014-MY, 2015-MY, and 2016-MY Audi models including the A6, A7, A8, A8L, and Q5.
"This settlement highlights the fact that cheating to get a car certified has consequences for air quality and the public's health — and that cheaters will be caught and held accountable," said Richard Corey, CARB's executive officer. "Because California is able to enforce its vehicle regulations, CARB was instrumental in uncovering the cheating in the 3-liter, and before that, in the 2-liter, diesel engines. The mitigation in this settlement will now help California address its serious air quality and climate challenges with a focus on putting the very cleanest vehicles in disadvantaged communities where they are needed most."
U.S. district court Judge Charles R. Breyer must still approve the 3.0L settlement.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Operations

Manheim Index Shows Used-Vehicle Wholesale Prices Up 2.1% in June
The market is seeing stronger appreciation in older used vehicles this year, and the most affordable segments have been among the year’s best performers.
Read More →
Commercial Fleet Sales Contribute To June, YTD Gains
The fleet sector has boosted its vehicle purchases at a reliable pace in the first half of this year compared with 1H 2025.
Read More →
Stop Remarketing Electric Vehicles Like Gas Cars
The advantages and attributes of electric vehicles are upending the traditional remarketing cycle, requiring fleet sellers to rely on new factors and approaches detailed below.
Read More →
AP Fleet Management Expands Remarketing Program for Commercial Work Trucks
AP Fleet Management expanded its commercial vehicle remarketing program with dedicated resale services and an online marketplace for used work trucks.
Read More →
Used EVs Strengthen Overall Electric Vehicle Market
The latest sales data point to several reasons for the divergent trends in new and used EVs that can factor into fleet cycling decisions.
Read More →
The Data-Driven Haul: 5 Ways AI is Leveling the Playing Field in Auto Transport
Large and small transport fleets are becoming more competitive as predictive analytics and real-time data inform the logistics decision chain.
Read More →
2026 CAR Awards Celebrate Industry Excellence
CAR’s annual Fleet Remarketing Awards opened a reimagined 2026 conference designed to bridge the worlds of fleet management and automotive remarketing.
Read More →
CAR 2026 Recap Part 2: Closing the Gap Between Data & Remarketing Value
The second half of CAR 2026 examined how fleets can translate lifecycle strategy, vehicle data, and market shifts into higher real-world results.
Read More →
CAR2026 in Two Words: Velocity, Value (Part 1)
The 2026 Conference of Automotive Remarketing convened with a mandate to involve a new constituency — fleet managers — and an updated mission to demonstrate unrealized value in de-fleeted vehicles.
Read More →
CAR 2026: Get the Wall Street Update on the Key Players in Remarketing
From a Wall Street analyst's take on remarketing's key players to whether fleets need their own version of Carfax, CAR 2026's afternoon roundtables will answer key operational and industry questions.
Read More →