Judge Lets VW Test Program To Scrap Cheating Diesel Vehicles

DETROIT (AP) - A federal judge is letting Volkswagen study the feasibility of scrapping 2-liter diesel cars that cheat on emissions tests.

Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco signed an order Friday authorizing a test program involving 20 cars now owned by VW or its finance company.

Breyer wrote that VW wants the tests so it can understand the process of scrapping the cars and salvaging parts.

In June, VW agreed to spend as much as $15 billion to settle lawsuits and complaints by governments about the cheating. The company agreed to give 475,000 owners the option of selling their cars back or having them repaired.

VW has admitted that the cars were programmed to turn on pollution controls during government tests and turn them off when traveling on roadways.