---
title: "Volkswagen Reportedly Wants US to Green-Light Dieselgate Settlement Without an Emissions Fix"
description: "And the judge says he is \"strongly inclined\" to go along with VW."
date: "2016-10-18"
modified: "2016-10-18"
authors:
  - name: "Aaron Brown"
    job_title: "Staff Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/aaron-brown"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/5601/volkswagen-reportedly-wants-us-to-green-light-dieselgate-settlement-without-an-emissions-fix"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Volkswagen News"
tags:
  - "dieselgate"
  - "Volkswagen"
  - "VW"
---

# Volkswagen Reportedly Wants US to Green-Light Dieselgate Settlement Without an Emissions Fix

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/vw_tdi_court_fix_engine_hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Volkswagen is seeking final approval on its [$14.7 billion Dieselgate settlement before](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20161018/COPY01/310189950/vw-said-to-seek-final-approval-of-u-s-emissions-deal-without-agreed>) receiving a go-ahead from U.S. officials in regards to a fix that would fully improve emissions in its its [482,000 rule-breaking cars](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20161018/COPY01/310189950/vw-said-to-seek-final-approval-of-u-s-emissions-deal-without-agreed>) on American soil. And the judge in charge of the case says he is "strongly inclined" to go through with it.

VW's [settlement for cars equipped with its 2.0-liter engine](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/4183/vws-massive-dieselgate-settlement-could-mean-10-000-payouts-to-diesel-owners>) came in June, but it is slated to be seen by a [federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20161018/COPY01/310189950/vw-said-to-seek-final-approval-of-u-s-emissions-deal-without-agreed>). As of now, the EPA has not seen a proposal from VW that could successfully bring the law-breaking cars up to acceptable levels of emissions, *Automotive News* reports.

Federal judge Charles M. Breyer of the Northern District of California, who has been overseeing the case, announced in a statement that [he is inclined to approve the settlement as it is](<https://twitter.com/ReutersBiz/status/788440899248328704>). He has until October 25th to provide a final ruling. A formal fix from VW will not be looked at by U.S. officials until the settlement is finalized.

If Volkswagen is unable to come up with a suitable solution for its dirty diesels, it could be forced to spend billions of dollars to buy back all the vehicles that came equipped with the emissions standards-cheating devices in the United States. The same may also go for VW's 3.0-liter diesel engines that are unable to legally meet emissions standards in their current form.

So far, VW's talks with the [EPA have reportedly gone smoothly](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20161018/COPY01/310189950/vw-said-to-seek-final-approval-of-u-s-emissions-deal-without-agreed>), but the carmaker has faced speed bumps due to the California Air Resources Board. Previously, CARB officials have [shot down two of VW's recall strategies](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20161018/COPY01/310189950/vw-said-to-seek-final-approval-of-u-s-emissions-deal-without-agreed>): One, in January, for the 2.0-liter engines, and one in July, when the automaker came to the agency with a strategy for cars with its 3.0-liter motors.

If the automaker does go ahead with the car buy-back plan for its 2.0-liter models, so far, it has allocated up to $10 billion to do so. VW has also set aside $2.7 billion to give to federal and California officials for pollution-reducing civil works projects and an additional $2 billion for new clean technology

## Author
Aaron was previously a contributing writer with Jalopnik and has also written for Business Insider covering cars. When he's not in the office writing the news, you'll probably find him thrashing a beater car around a RallyCross.

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