Judge: VW owners get option of buybacks, fixes

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Latest on an agreement in the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal (all times local):

8:30 a.m.

A judge says an agreement will give consumers who bought nearly 600,000 Volkswagen vehicles rigged to cheat on emissions tests the option of having the automaker buy back the cars or fix them.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer did not give details Thursday on how much car owners would be paid but said the deal between Volkswagen, the U.S. government and private lawyers would include "substantial compensation."

Breyer says the agreement will include a fund for corrective efforts over the excess pollution and that VW will be required to commit other money to promote green automotive technology.

The owners and the U.S. Department of Justice sued the company after it acknowledged in September that it intentionally defeated emissions tests and put dirty vehicles on the road.

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10:40 p.m.

Time is up for Volkswagen to meet a federal judge's deadline to detail how it will make nearly 600,000 diesel cars rigged to cheat on emissions tests comply with clean air laws.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said he wanted to know the timing of the fix and any planned payments to vehicle owners by a court hearing set for Thursday.

A person briefed on the matter says a deal is expected to be announced between Volkswagen, the U.S. government and private lawyers for the automaker to buy back some of the vehicles and spend just over $1 billion to compensate owners.

The person says the agreement, however, does not include plans on how to repair the vehicles.

It is unclear whether the deal will satisfy Breyer.