U.S. senators probe tax credit related to VW 'clean-burning' cars

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top senators on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee are investigating Volkswagen AG's actions related to federal tax credits designed to reward consumers for buying environmentally-friendly vehicles, according to a letter released on Wednesday. The move by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch and ranking Democrat Ron Wyden was conveyed in a letter to the automaker dated Oct. 6 but made public on Wednesday. It comes after the company admitted that it used a software trick to show false, "clean-burning" diesel engine performance in some of its models. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; Writing by Richard Cowan; Editing by Susan Heavey)