MOSCOW, October 4 (Sputnik) — In September, the US Environmental Protection Agency accused Volkswagen of knowingly installing defective software in cars with diesel engines to mask the results of emissions tests. The carmaker may pay fines of up to $18 billion.
"I believe that this [scandal] did not tarnish the reputation of the German economy, and the confidence in the German economy," Merkel told the German broadcaster Deutschlandradio in an interview aired Sunday.
The chancellor expressed hope that Volkswagen would deal with this incident soon.
According to the car manufacturer, some 11 million automobiles were affected worldwide.
Volkswagen said it would set aside over $7 billion to cover the necessary service measures and perform public relations damage control for projected losses to its reputation.
