VW CEO: Automaker has second chance in U.S.


              Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller,  center, looks at the assembly  line during a tour of the VW plant  in Wolfsburg, Germany Wednesday Oct. 21, 2015.  ( Julian Stratenschulte/Pool Photo via AP)
Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller, center, looks at the assembly line during a tour of the VW plant in Wolfsburg, Germany Wednesday Oct. 21, 2015. ( Julian Stratenschulte/Pool Photo via AP)

Volkswagen's chief executive believes the automaker may have a second chance in the United States despite being at the center of a massive emissions-cheating scandal.

"Of course, we must and will face fines" in the US and to some extent "we are certainly the underdog there," Matthias Mueller told the German news agency DPA in an interview.

"But the great thing about the US is that they sympathize with the underdog. In America, there is the possibility of seeing a renaissance by hard work. And that's what we're going to do," the CEO said.

Asked whether VW could survive the scandal, Mueller replied: "Certainly. And very well."

Upcoming Events