VW group CEO Matthias Mueller, left, and CFO Frank Witter, right, arrive for the annual media conference of the Volkswagen group, in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller says the automaker had "an excellent year" in 2017 and is committed to addressing concerns about diesel pollution.
Mueller cited the company's efforts to reduce diesel emissions and recover from its 2015 diesel emissions scandal. He said 160,000 older diesels had been taken off the road through trade-in incentives, and decided to update software on 4 million cars to reduce emissions.
He said Tuesday the company would be "part of the solution" in finding a way to address controversy over the diesel issue. Environmentalists are pressing for bans on older diesels in German cities with high pollution levels.
Mueller gave an upbeat view after last year's record sales of 10.7 million vehicles. He said "we are on the offensive and we're going to stay that way."
VW group CEO Matthias Mueller, left, and CFO Frank Witter, right, pose in front of a self driving concept car prior to the annual media conference of the Volkswagen group, in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
VW group CEO Matthias Mueller, front, and CFO Frank Witter, back ground left, arrive for the annual media conference of the Volkswagen group, in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
VW group CEO Matthias Mueller, left, and CFO Frank Witter, right, arrive for the annual media conference of the Volkswagen group, in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press
VW group CEO Matthias Mueller, left, and CFO Frank Witter, second from left, arrive for the annual media conference of the Volkswagen group, in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday, March 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Associated Press