Automotive News: VW settles 10 U.S. state diesel claims for $157 million, Toyota recalls 2.9 million vehicles globally over airbags, We know more about that crash involving Uber's self-driving car
Volkswagen settles 10 U.S. state diesel claims for $157 million
Volkswagen AG said on Thursday it has agreed to pay $157.45 million to settle environmental claims from 10 U.S. states over its excess diesel emissions, as the world's largest automaker looks to move past the scandal.
The settlement covers states including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington, as well as some consumer claims. In 2016, the German automaker reached a $603 million agreement with 44 U.S. states, but that settlement did not cover claims in Thursday's announcement.
In total, VW has agreed to spend up to $25 billion in the United States to address claims from owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers and to make buy-back offers. read more »
Toyota recalls 2.9 million vehicles globally over airbags
Toyota Motor Corp on Thursday said it was recalling a total of about 2.9 million vehicles in Japan, China, Oceania and other regions including its Corolla Axio sedan and RAV4 SUV crossover due to potentially faulty airbag inflators. read more »
We know more about that crash involving Uber’s self-driving car
New details about the collision last weekend involving one of Uber’s self-driving vehicles raise questions about how self-driving technology, which is still under development, will respond to roadway scenarios where human behavior and common driving practices may not always align with the letter of the law. read more »
Suppliers in Crosshairs of Elevated Recall Environment
U.S. light-vehicle recalls set an all-time record last year and experts predict they will remain elevated in coming years, so parts suppliers should get their houses in order to overcome potentially costly penalties and litigation.
Neil Steinkamp, a managing director in the New York office of global corporate consultancy Stout Risius Ross, says emerging technologies, greater federal scrutiny and an airbag defect scandal at Japanese supplier Takata has been pushing callbacks up in recent years.
Last year, OEMs recalled 53.2 million cars and trucks across 927 campaigns, a record high for the third year in a row. read more »
Ford will record $295 million Q1 hit from two N.A. recalls
Ford Motor Co. said it will take a $295 million hit to its first-quarter earnings from two recalls in North America announced Wednesday, one involving engines that could catch fire and the other involving a persistent door latch problem.
Ford CFO Bob Shanks last week alluded to a higher-than-expected warranty cost that will impact Ford’s first quarter earnings. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ford said the $295 million charge would be absorbed mainly by its North America and Europe business units and would be included in first-quarter results. read more »
VW files complaint over searches of its dieselgate law firm
Volkswagen has filed a legal complaint with a Munich court, seeking to prevent German prosecutors from using information seized during searches of the law firm it hired to investigate its emissions scandal.
The decision follows a meeting of VW's supervisory board on Tuesday, when officials discussed what legal recourse the carmaker has to prevent prosecutors from retaining and assessing the seized material, two sources close to the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. read more »
