FRANKFURT-Two top lieutenants of former Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn are being replaced, according to people familiar with the situation-the latest fallout from the company’s admission that software embedded in its engines duped USA diesel-emissions testing.
Advertisement
Audi’s R&D boss Ulrich Hackenberg, a long-time VW brand executive and Porsche’s engine chief Wolfgang Hatz will be dismissed at a meeting of the supervisory board on Friday, the newspaper said. Reuters reported that Porsche chief Matthias Mueller will be tapped to lead the company.
One of the worst parts to all of this is that Volkswagen is a parent company of brands that include Audi and Porsche.
While the dismissal of Hackenberg, Hatz and Horn is yet to be confirmed, Volkswagen board member Olaf Lies told German media there will be further changes in employment as its internal investigation into the diesel scandal continues.
“I am shocked by the events of the past few days”.
An official statement from Winterkorn said: “I am clearing the way for a fresh start. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group”, read the statement published on Volkswagen’s website. Though it’s laughable that the company CEO would miss such a large moral failing, it brings to mind the recent GM ignition situation that was dumped on now-CEO Mary Barra – immediately after Dan Akerson, too, resigned the post.
“Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel”.
Advertisement
Almost 11 million cars have been affected by the misleading software, causing uproar among Volkswagen owners and environmental protection agencies alike.
