VW Says It Will “Redefine” Brand in U.S.

Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess tells U.S. dealers the company will “redefine” the VW brand in America.

But it isn’t clear what that means, Automotive News reports. Diess did tell dealers last weekend during the National Automobile Dealers Assn. in Las Vega that the company will increase shipments to them this year, adding that plans to introduce two new crossover models for them are still on track.

Diess, citing a government gag order, did not offer details about how VW aims to fix the 580,000 vehicles to be recalled in the U.S. because their diesel engines were rigged to evade emission regulations. Nor did he tell them how or when the company plans to compensate them for lost sales and other expenses tied to their inventories of diesels they are barred from selling.

AN describes the meeting between VW officials and frustrated dealers “a cease-fire” in the factory’s strained relationship with its U.S. retailers, who last week threatened to sue the company for reparations. They have been in limbo since mid-September when the diesel cheating scandal broke.