Volkswagen AG has been storing around 300,000 vehicles in locations across the US after paying more than $7.4 billion (€6 billion) to buy back about 350,000 US diesel vehicles prior to mid-February, a recent court filing shows.

A VW spokeswoman said the vehicles were stored on an "interim basis" and were being "routinely maintained in a manner to ensure their long-term operability and quality".

"They may be returned to commerce or exported once US regulators approve appropriate emissions modifications," she added.

This desert location is just one of 37 carparks — others include a Detroit football stadium and a former Minnesota paper mill.

VW's buybacks will continue until the end of 2019, by which time it must have repurchased or fixed 85% of the polluting vehicles or face higher payments for emissions.

The company said it would soon hit this required figure, having fixed nearly 83% of vehicles concerned by mid-February.

It agreed to spend a total of $25 billion (€20.4 billion) in the US on claims from owners, environmental regulators, states and dealers.

| A EuroNews release  |  ||  April 04, 2018   |||