<|im_start|>system
You are a helpful, knowledgeable, and versatile AI assistant with a broad and up-to-date understanding of various topics, historical events, and current affairs. Provide factual, insightful, and well-structured responses.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Analyze and summarize the following news-like text snippet: 
FILE - The Volkswagen logo is seen on a vehicle in New York, March 29, 2018.
A U.S. judge in California has granted preliminary approval of a $48 million settlement for investors who said Volkswagen AG made false and misleading statements about its excess diesel emissions.
Lawyers for the investors, who include police and other municipal pension funds, had estimated that the maximum they could have recovered was $147 million. But Judge Charles Breyer said the settlement agreed to in August appeared "fair, adequate and reasonable."
VW, in a statement, said Friday that the "proposed settlement agreement eliminates the uncertainty and considerable costs of protracted litigation in the United States and is in the best interests of the company." The ruling was issued late Wednesday.
In 2017, VW also pleaded guilty of fraud, obstruction of justice and falsifying statements in a U.S. court. Under the plea deal, the automaker agreed to sweeping reforms, new audits and oversight by an independe...<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
The provided text appears to be a news article or similar content. A brief summary could be: FILE - The Volkswagen logo is seen on a vehicle in New York, March 29, 2018.
A U.S. judge in California has granted preliminary approval of a $48 million settlement for investors who said Volkswagen AG made false and misleading statements about its excess diesel emissions.
Lawyers for the investors, who include police and other municipal pension funds, had estimated that the maximum they could have recovered was $147 million. But Judge Charles Breyer said the settlement agreed to in August appea... (Further analysis would depend on the specific query.)<|im_end|>
