Car Dealer Settles Suit on Overcharging

California’s largest Chevrolet dealership temporarily closed its showroom last week and agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that it overcharged buyers of new and used cars, a county prosecutor said.

The settlement followed an investigation by the state Department of Motor Vehicles into allegations that Gunderson Chevrolet of El Monte misled 1,558 customers about the cost of the vehicles and monthly payments, Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeffrey McGrath said.

McGrath said the judgment was entered into without admission of liability.

“We welcome the settlement,” said Oscar Suris, a spokesman for Gunderson. “We’ve been fully cooperating with the district attorney and DMV for close to a year; this settlement is a product of that.”