Volkswagen is offering gift cards and dealership credits to U.S. owners of cars equipped with software that cheats emissions regulations, reflecting a concerted bid to begin rehabilitating its battered image.
The German automaker will offer a $500 Visa debit card, which can be spent on anything, and a $500 dealership credit to owners of 482,000 diesel cars embroiled in the emissions scandal.
The company will also offer three years of free roadside assistance.
Owners of the Audi cars affected by the scandal will get the same offer.
By accepting the offer, vehicle owners will not be required to relinquish their right to participate in a class-action lawsuit, take legal actions on their own or give up any potential future compensation, Volkswagen spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan confirmed in an email.