VW owners seek trial if there's no fix in emissions case
DETROIT (AP) — Lawyers representing thousands of people who own diesel Volkswagens that cheat on emissions tests are asking a judge to order repairs and compensation if the company and government regulators don't agree to a fix by Thursday.
The cases have lingered since last fall with the polluting cars still on the road, leaving owners to wonder if VW will buy them back or come up with a repair that will hurt their performance and fuel mileage.
The cheating allowed cars to pass laboratory emissions tests while spewing harmful nitrogen oxide at up to 40 times the level allowed when operating on real roads.
During a hearing in March, Breyer said that VW and government regulators must present a detailed plan within a month on getting the cars to comply with clean air laws, or risk the possibility of a trial this summer.
The judge also said that former FBI Director Robert Mueller told him Volkswagen, government regulators and attorneys for car owners had made substantial progress toward a resolution that would get the polluting cars off the road.