Automotive News: U.S. judge approves $14.7 billion settlement over VW diesel vehicles, Toyota recalls Highlander vehicles, NHTSA issues guidance on auto cybersecurity
U.S. judge approves $14.7 billion settlement over VW diesel vehicles
A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday approved Volkswagen AG's record-setting $14.7 billion settlement with regulators and owners of 475,000 polluting diesel vehicles, and the German automaker said it would begin buying back the vehicles in mid-November.
The action by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco marked the latest development in a scandal that has rocked VW since it admitted in September 2015 using secret software in its diesel cars to cheat exhaust emissions tests and make them appear cleaner than they really were.
Under the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to spend up to $10.033 billion on the buybacks and owner compensation and $4.7 billion on programs to offset excess emissions and boost zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and other clean vehicle projects. read more »
Volkswagen/Audi Diesel Emissions Settlement Program
Learn more about the Settlements and program to modify or buyback certain Volkswagen or Audi diesel automobiles in the United States
Toyota recalls certain Model Year 2016 Highlander vehicles
Toyota Motor North America, Inc., announced that it is conducting a safety recall of approximately 7,100 Model Year 2016 Toyota Highlander vehicles in the U.S.
On the involved vehicles, there is a possibility that the wire harness which attaches to the brake fluid reservoir sensor was not connected during the vehicle assembly process. If this were to occur, the vehicle would not meet a federal safety standard provision requiring a warning light if there is a drop in the brake fluid level. If a warning light does not come on to indicate a drop in fluid level, this could increase the risk of a crash. read more »
NHTSA issues nonbinding guidance on auto cybersecurity
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new guidance for how automakers should approach cybersecurity amid growing scrutiny prompted by high-profile vehicle hacks and the spread of car connectivity technologies.
NHTSA says cybersecurity should be a top priority of automakers and suppliers that should be formally addressed during the product development process of new vehicles. The agency also says automakers and suppliers should conduct “penetration tests” to seek out potential vulnerabilities. Test results should be documented to describe how weak spots were addressed or the rationale for not addressing vulnerabilities found in testing. read more »
