Automakers pay biggest-ever Clean Air Act fine

Automakers Hyundai (538-KR) and Kia (27-KR) have reached a settlement with the federal government over alleged Clean Air Act violations, agreeing to pay the largest ever penalty in the law's history.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department, which jointly reached the settlement, the car companies sold about 1.2 million cars that emit around 4.75 million metric tons of greenhouse gases above what the companies said they would release.

Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay a $100 million civil fine, and they will forfeit so-called carbon credits which are used to make up for vehicles that emit more greenhouse gases. Hyundai will pay $56.8 million of that penalty, while Kia provides the remainder.

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