NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Haslam is urging Volkswagen to quickly address consumers’ worries about the company’s vehicle emissions-testing scandal, saying his “primary” concerns are the German auto manufacturer’s auto sales and the impact on sales and jobs at VW’s Chattanooga plant.
“My primary concern is getting Volkswagen back to where they’re in a mode to sell cars,” Haslam told reporters in Nashville this morning. “Because if they’re not selling cars, those 2,000-plus people who are working in Chattanooga’s life is going to be different.”
Tennessee Gov. Bill HaslamVolkwagen, the world’s largest auto manufacturer, finds itself in a crisis in both the U.S. and Europe following revelations the company evaded emissions standards through use of a “defeat” computer program aimed at fooling tests on some diesel-fueled models.
“We really have two concerns,” Haslam said. “No. 1, we have an investment in the original plant and then the expansion. “Second, we obviously have a vested interested in their success, I mean, in them selling cars. And so we’re urging them to get everything out in front of everybody as quickly as possible so existing customers can understand what the solution is going to be and that Volkswagen can have a clear path forward.”
Tennessee government provided an estimated $358.2 million of the original $577.4 million in incentives that drew Volkswagen to located its Passat in Chattanooga with local governments providing the remaining $219.2 million.
And this year, Tennessee, Chattanooga and Hamilton County governments committed to more than $260 million in incentives for a new line of SUV production.
Asked if he has concerns about VW production and sales’ impact in Chattanooga, the governor said, “sure, that’s one of my primary concerns. Obviously there’s a lot of questions out there in the consumer’s mind. I think that’s why it’s really important for Volkswagen to come out quickly and say, ‘Here’s what we’re going to address our existing customers and here’s why we can assure potential customers that they’re going to get the vehicle they think they’re buying.'”
Read more about Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal
Volkswagen Group of America head to testify before Congress
Volkswagen brand sales trail auto market
VW sales in U.S. rise slightly despite scandal
U.S. states issue subpoena in Volkswagen investigation
VW: Nothing has changed inside Volkswagen’s only U.S. assembly plant
Cooper: VW should take a page from Tylenol
VW cuts shift at German plant, freezes some hiring
VW expansion, production on track in Chattanooga despite diesel scandal, state officials say
Volkswagen appoints new chief of North American operations
Gov. Haslam worried about VW scandal’s effect on sales, jobs at Chattanooga plant
Volkswagen faces major legal trouble in emissions scandal
VW faces daunting challenges in fixing emissions cheating
VW was reportedly warned about illegal emissions tricks year ago
German prosecutors open investigation into ex-Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn
Volkswagen to reorganize North American operations
Tennessee judge sues VW in emissions scandal
Tennessee part of multi-state investigation into Volkswagen
EPA changing emissions tests after being duped by VW for seven years
Volkswagen sued by Chattanooga area residents
Reports: Volkswagen to pick Porsche’s Matthias Muller as new CEO
Ex-Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn may get $60 million severance package
More resignations expected at Volkswagen
VW workers ‘trying to make light of situation, but we just don’t know’
VW faces growing number of class action lawsuits
Why most VW drivers may not let their cars be recalled
Volkswagen CEO steps down, takes responsibility for scandal
German official cautions against talking down VW
Biggest VW dealer says ‘Volkswagen brand is at risk’
Six big questions about Volkswagen’s emissions crisis
Tarnished: State Senate, U.S. House panels plan hearings on VW’s diesel deception
VW officials assure Berke that Chattanooga SUV is ‘critical’ to their market strategy
Emissions testers approving VW vehicles that pass inspection until directed to do otherwise
Lawmakers move quickly to grill VW over diesel deception
Volkswagen CEO says he is ‘endlessly sorry’ for emissions deception as VW issues profit warning
Will pollution scandal ruin Volkswagen in the United States?
Volkswagen says 11 million vehicles worldwide affected by pollution scandal
Volkswagen’s reputation erodes as diesel emissions scandal widens
Sohn: What was Volkswagen thinking?
VW unveils new Passat design for 2016
VW rocked by emissions scandal as prosecutors come calling
For 7 years, VW software thwarted pollution regulations
VW scandal has TN officials fuming after giving millions in incentives
Volkswagen tells dealers to stop selling 2015 diesel cars
Sohn: VW’s alleged emissions ‘defeat device’ disheartening
VW could be fined $18 billion for cheating on emission rules
VW stock crashes after admitting it rigged U.S. emission tests