Speaking on RTL television at a pre-election town hall event, Merkel urged German carmakers, who have been found cheating on nitrogen emissions tests, to work towards rebuilding trust in diesel. She emphasized the importance of diesel in reaching climate protection goals, despite the fact that diesel cars emit more nitrogen dioxide, which can be harmful in high concentrations. Merkel also addressed the issue of compensation for German car owners affected by the scandal, noting the differences in legal systems between Germany and the US. She stressed the need for German carmakers to compensate owners whose vehicles have lost value due to the scandal to prevent harm to the reputation of the industry. The auto industry's future in Germany, which is the country's largest exporter and employer of 800,000 people, has become a prominent topic in the current election. Politicians are pointing fingers at executives and each other for the industry's damaged reputation following Volkswagen's admission of cheating on US emissions tests nearly two years ago.