EPA Reportedly Asks Volkswagen To Build Electric Cars In The U.S.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reportedly asked Volkswagen to manufacture electric cars in the U.S., as part of ongoing negotiations concerning the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal. As German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reports, the electric vehicles would be built at VW's plant in Chattanooga, TN. The EPA has also asked the company to help build a nationwide charging network, according to Welt am Sonntag, which did not cite any sources in its report. It is not clear whether the EPA asked VW to develop new electric cars, or if it wants the company to manufacture existing models in the U.S.

Volkswagen and the EPA are currently in negotiations to develop a solution for the nearly 600,000 diesel cars implicated in the emissions scandal. Last year, it was revealed that special software on some VW diesel models allowed them to cheat emissions tests, resulting in emissions levels that were 40 times higher than legal limits. Volkswagen has repeatedly apologized and has developed a technical fix for European markets, though it has yet to introduce a solution for the U.S. In December, the EPA and the Department of Justice filed a joint lawsuit against Volkswagen, accusing the automaker of violating the Clean Air Act.

In a statement to Reuters, a VW spokeswoman said: "Talks with the EPA are ongoing and we are not commenting on the contents and state of the negotiations." The EPA declined to comment on the report.

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