Tennessee lawmakers to hear from Volkswagen on Thursday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Volkswagen is reaffirming its commitment to its lone U.S. plant in Tennessee after a diesel emissions cheating scandal rocked the German automaker.

The Chattanooga plant's CEO, Christian Koch, said in a statement that the company must "deepen our commitment to America."

The statement comes ahead of a Thursday hearing before Tennessee lawmakers.

Republican state Sen. Bo Watson has said he wants to ensure that hundreds of millions of incentive dollars are being spent wisely by the German automaker.

Watson has long criticized Volkswagen for not doing more to prevent the United Auto Workers union from gaining a foothold at the plant. Thursday's hearing comes less than a week after maintenance workers at the plant petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a new union vote.