VW plans to eventually repair and export these vehicles out of the U.S.
Volkswagen continues to store approximately 294,000 diesel-powered vehicles in America from its buyback program. A recent BBC News video (above) shows a view of one of the huge makeshift parking lots that the company uses to store the models. The site is located in the California desert. The backdrop music, which sounds like Blade Runner, is a fitting accompaniment to the dystopian scene. This clip shows only a small number of affected vehicles, making Dieselgate easier to comprehend.
According to Automotive News, VW bought back approximately 350,000 American vehicles at a cost exceeding $7.4 billion. This is citing a Reuters article. After making repairs, some vehicles were destroyed by the company and others have been resold. The vast majority of the vehicles are stored in 37 parking lots throughout the country. VW plans to eventually fix these diesel cars and export them out of country.
Through the end of 2019, the automaker will buy back any diesel models that are no longer in production. Take a look at the video below.
VW also stored diesel vehicles at the Pontiac Silverdome, Michigan (see video). There were 69 stolen cars from that facility in 2017. They created fake models with false titles and then sold them at an Indiana auto auction.
VW executives believe there could still be a future in diesel cars , especially in Europe. The CEO of Volkswagen Group Matthias Mueller stated that diesel will experience a revival in the near future, as people who have driven diesels will recognize it to be a very comfortable driving concept.
VW invested more in electrification after Dieselgate. In 2020, the first dedicated EVs will be available.