Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn has officially announced his resignation from the post, as the scandal involving VW and Audi diesel models in the United States – which have been found to have so-called “defeat devices” that help them cheat stringent federal air pollution tests – deepens further.
“I am shocked by the events of the past few days,” he said in a statement. “Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group. As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the supervisory board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group.”
Winterkorn added that the move was in the best interest of the world’s biggest car company, even though he was not aware of any wrongdoing on his part. “Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation.
“The process of clarification and transparency must continue,” he said. “This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis.”
Winterkorn’s resignation comes just weeks after he was confirmed to stay as head honcho (after a long leadership tussle with then-chairman Ferdinand Piech saw the ousting of the latter) until at least 2018, pending board approval; voting on the proposal was slated for Friday. It also follows mere hours after his public apology on video (as shown above), in which he vowed to “get to the bottom of this.”
To recap, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reportedly begun lobbying for a recall of roughly 482,000 VW and Audi vehicles in the country, due to an illegal code in their software to allow them to pass emissions tests, but otherwise produced “up to 40 times” the permitted levels of nitrogen oxides.
The group is facing possible fines of up to US$18 billion (RM79 billion) as well a criminal investigation by the US Justice Department, and has already seen its share prices plunge 23% on Monday, wiping out at least €15.6 billion (RM74.8 billion) of its market value. Want to know more about how VW allegedly managed to keep this quiet for so long, and how it finally got caught in the act? Read our in-depth story here.
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This is the difference between first world and third world leadership. Neither are perfect but the former knows it is answerable to stakeholders at large. The latter just clings on for dear life.
I thought ours is 4th world leadership
“The process of clarification and transparency must continue,” from1st world leaders… Hope our leaders will learn from this… but it will never happen from Dumno leaders !!!
I am shocked. 1 week has passed after the cheating scandal in USA. Everyone and even the whole world is talking about it.
Our VGM has not even issued a statement to VW owners and to Malaysians in general about products in Malaysia.
Eventhough Malaysia has no diesel VW cars, it is only responsible for VGM to issue a statement to tell Malaysians not to worry about their other products.
Unless there is something to hide and they don’t want to stir problems with Malaysians questioning the DSG lemons.
Such an irresponsible brand in Malaysia.
they are too scared because then they will have to compensate all the DSg customers in Malaysia. At least a few Billion Ringgit.
India has just ordered a probbe into VW cars in India. When is the Malaysian government going to order a probe also?
Or are they worried it might affect DRB Hicom’s business
First of all. This issued is only affected diesel engine but not petrol car. Further more, this scandal is totally not affected Malaysia at all. Why have to come out statement as Malaysia is not affect at all?! There is nothing to hide here in Malaysia
How would you claimed that VW is irresponsible brand in Malaysia?
1. This issued is only affected in US and diesel engine.
2. Since there is 0 affected in Malaysia why need bother to come out with a statement?
Dumno leaders will rally in red shirts and demand you to hand over 50% of Petaling Street
They always say, when there is a lie, there is always 9 other lies hidden and will slowly come out.
the same with cheating. It is just a matter of time before the lies start to come out. Now, the BMW lie is already out in the open. Soon, many lies to be coming in the open.
VW in Malaysia should compensate Malaysian buyers at least RM30k per vehicle because VW customers also suffered with DSG problems for years and even till today.
DSG and Dirty Diesel scandal is the same. Scandal is Scandal. Lie is Lie. They should compensate every VW buyer in Malaysia
I dun think VW will cheat la! Such incident happened because it is due to some error happened in somewhere. Since now VW had admited their mistake I believe they will take action immediately fixing this issue as soon as possible.
come on la! VW nvr lie and something really impressed me is they admitted their problem and VW will take the matter seriously and is cooperating with the investigation with US government to find out the cause and fixed this issue as soon as possible
VW had recalled back for DSG issued and the problem had been solved already.. I dun understand why ppl like to take such news for granted!
Proton CEO should resign over falsely claiming their cars are ‘BMW of Asia’ whereas the quality is no where near BMW
Yes this is true also. Many people bought the Waja thinking it was at par with BMW. They misled the public. Sold something that does not corrspond to its description.
Yes true, not even close to the BMW in 80s
Of course quality no near BMW, p1 not cheating. VW BMW cheated people.
BMW = banyak masuk worksyop. All people know that.
At least a proton does not die on you on the way out of the showroom gate!
Not only that, but cheated Malaysian for 30 years using tongkat. Rakyat ask it to close shop but refuse
Time to bring Proton to justice
Proof?
I believe proton was refering to its handling on par with bmw. After acquisition of lotus, proton cars handling are one the best in their respective segment. Build quality still very lousy. A friend whose iriz just 3 months old already have power windows failure. Spare parts more than 1 month still havent arrived
difference between a good leader and a corupted leader also…
a good 1 will always admit to his fault while a corrupted 1 will always find ways to blame others people
Proton CEO should resign over Exora scandal
Not only resign, Proton should close shop
OMG…Exora scandal? Pls share ur finding. TQ.
Alza got burned no scandal pulak. Topkek
Eat your own ‘kek’ lah
sorry, fyi, this one had just ousted the former CEO Ferdinand Piech so that he could do whatever he wanted to do, not long ago. responsible? mostly due to the pressure from the board of director. so is he respectable in my eyes? no. sorry, there’s no way he didn’t know this practice existed in VW in the first place. no way.
Dude get your facts right. Piech was ousted out of VW when He was CHAIRMAN. A whole other different position.
The reason why he has always had a more active road throughout his time in the company than a normal Chairman would was because of the deep family ties he had with the company(through Porsche) and also because he is a bloody good engineer …. but he was never as good a businessman as Winterkorn who pushed VW through its most profitable phase in all his positions up until CEO..and as the saying goes…its all about the MONEY..which is why stakeholders backed Winterkorn up during the recent power-play…
Piech resigned coz he’s just Piech..he didnt want the rift to mess the company..he still owns a family stake..
With that being said..he must be fuming right now…
ya, more profitable, but with what means achieving that? and regardless, winterkorn and piech are not in good term is an open secret already. and piech did stop quite a number of things winterkorn wanted to do previously.
bottom line, if you say piech wasn’t a good businessman, winterkorn wasn’t really a good businessman either. and the more he stressed he and the company were “innocent” and “unaware” of how this thing happened, the more disgusted i am with him.
it’s almost like when certain dumbass in government gave some racist statements or did some controversial actions, and his/her superior clarified few days later, after fierce objection from the public or certain group of people, that whatever he/she did and said had nothing to do with the stance of that particular department, and that they were unaware of his/her actions and speech. ya right, like i am gonna believe that crap.
If you believe bolehland is 3rd world country, you are WRONG
You are right, more like 4th world or Stone aged!
We are already soon to be declared junk status by Moody
There’s no such category as 4th World. Contrary to popular belief 1st, 2nd or 3rd World does not relate to their economic or technology advancement status but rather their political stance. The term was popular around WW2.
1st World refers to countries aligned to or friendly to the U, among other those NATO countries and the like.
2nd World, largely forgotten or being overlooked refers to countries aligned to or friendly to USSR.
The rest, including our wonderful country, belong to 3rd World.
Chill your arse people are just being sarcastic
Just admit you are naive. Even bashing without giving any reason. That’s pathetic.
Exactly.
If it is me I’ll hang myself for being such a disgrace to the country.
OMG…Cheating?… Bye VW…Bye Winterkorn, u can plan how to spend ur whole “winter season” now…lol
“Volkswagen needs a fresh start – also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation.
This sounds that he is a scapegoat for VW. I don’t think his only responsible on such lie. His level is not until this extent and I strongly believe on VW group dishonesty.
There’s one general statistical rule that says, ‘if you found 1, there’ll be 10 others in existance’. So VW caught one cheat, so there can be 10 others in working.
It should be nitrogen oxide or NOx. Not nitrous oxide. Just fyi.
Indeed, it is misleading. Fixed. Thanks for pointing it out!
Dear Jonathan
Please be more careful when writing next time. I forgive you this time around.
Cheers.
with this much higher Nitrogen Oxide Emissions.
The potential of harm is not quantifiable.
The health effect is very scary.
thus, other than penalties.
the Affected owners should starts to sue Volkswagen for cheating them.
Consumer’s right.
behave your manner ,i forgive this time.
hemp.
In Malaysia, after kantoi got RM2.6b, still can hold to the post as PM. When people ask to step down, all crazy reasons been given, konspirasi, Yahudi, negara asing, nak jatuhkan kerajaan Melayu Islam, fitnah pembangkang etc.. Shame on u, the now functionless PM.
Just becoz some pipu dun like him, doesnt mean the majority. And democracy always follow majority rulez, minority must shuddup.
Forcing a democratically elected leader down without going through proper due process is as undemocratic as the charges laid onto the leader himself.
Unlike a lot of misconception, the Westminster system does allow a leadership to be vacated during his tenure (ie Abbot, Brown, Mahathir, Badawi). But all went through due process of no-confidence either internally or externally.
What is shameful is that some pipu believe a Malaysia Spring is good thing. Just ask the Arabs.
Takut le tu
Ye. Takut Malaysia jadi macam Syria
Takut takde kontrek, dahlah skill takde
You want to talk about politics go to political blog. This is not even about bolehland. Gosh are you people out of your mind?
Minority must shuddup? Your head lah. Its a democracy, majority or minority should have a voice. Since when the majority likes najib either? Its true after all, otak bangsat is otak bangsat.
And how do you know majority dun like najib either? By reading all negative comments in mkini, rocket kah?
And what make you so sure that majority are against him? Through numbers on street rallies?
Thats not democracy. It must go through ballot boxes.
Ooh struck a nerve didnt i?
Yes, an Arab spring is not a good situation. But when the leadership has proven to be flawed with countless accusations of corruption and mishandling of politics in this country, what can people do? Certainly a proper vote would suffice but this too has proven futile as they have the law, money and power under their control.
In the case of VW, i believe they had no choice as when scandals of such magnitude occur, the head has to roll first. This is no laughing matter, not a mistake nor an accident.
Proven to be flawed?
What’s the proof?
the most basic and fundamental element in running a government. Dividing the races in its people.
Still see some brainless idiots dislike ur comments ..
Something to do with the EGR system? If you delete it, you will have a much cleaner engine, better burn and better power. But will cause higher nitrogen oxide levels. I already did this to my car, i wont let dirty exhaust gas back into the combustion cycle, its already happened to so many.
Well i guess former CEO ferdinand piech finally got his wish
And Faurecia who is the strategic partner of VW and main supplier of exhaust emission systems say they are not part of all these and they do not know…what a joke.
DRB Hicon which has a JV with Faurecia supplies to VW Malaysia and Proton…a lot of credibility at stake now.
DRB Hicon which has a JV with Faurecia supplies to VW Malaysia and Proton…a lot of credibility at stake now.
Borg Warner supply faulty DSG also, they still using.
The truth will always come out. Nothing can be swept under the carpet. This is probably one of the many discrepancies in the group. DSG will at some point surface too.
This what they get for conning others.
What an honourable thing to do; not yet convicted but stepped down none the less and take responsibility for the scandal. Unlike someone we know
Who? Proof?
Perasan le tu
Aiya no need for proof la…1 question asked if he did received 2.6b and so many contradicting answer came out….wat further proof do you need? Anyway he and hippo got 2.6b to spend on shopping, wat do you get? rm 10 to write good stuff on his behalf? btw have you receive yr nasi bungkus and water ration yet? lolz….
No need proof? Do we now live in a world where you are guilty until proven innocent?
Yes We already do with the likes of utusan
VW isn’t the only one who’s cheating on emissions. read more Jalopnik
http://jalopnik.com/watchdog-group-says-other-car-companies-are-cheating-on-1732615322
http://jalopnik.com/how-the-epa-won-1-billion-from-diesel-cheaters-long-be-1732109485
Major automakers are damned worried, fossil fuel burner days are numbered until unless they go Tesla way…
They are moving the electric way. It may take another decade for infrastructure to change to support the trend.
Yes I feel bad for his multi million euro severance package plus compensation to not join a rival car maker for at least 3 years
this corn surely tastes better than shit….no, najis
C’mon old man, you must do it in proper way!
Go apologize like Japanese do, kneels down put your face on
the floor! What a shameful sin a giant corporation can do. Yuck!
PM bila nak resign? Ada scandal juga..
won’t resign until his last “warrior” blood
funny
I don’t think many understand why VW’s emissions scandal is as serious as it is.
2015 has been quite unfortunate, because we had TWO automotive industry-related scandals on a global scale. In case anyone forgot already, yes, it’s the Takata airbag scandal. But there’s actually a huge difference between VW’s and Takata’s scandals; one is intentional fraud, while the other is negligence.
However, it’s also true that Takata’s case is a design or quality-related one. Takata also had a scandal involving seatbelts in the past. There was also Toyota’s stuck accelerator pedal scandal not too long ago. If we go way back, to one of the worst ever scandals in the auto industry, there’s the infamous Ford Pinto petrol tank scandal. All of these scandals have something to do with flawed design or poor quality products… whereas VW’s recent scandal has absolutely nothing to do with design and quality, it is 101% deception and lies. They have nothing to defend themselves with… unlike Takata, which could claim it was negligence instead of fraud, which I believe does not involve penalties as heavy as a fraud case.
It’s good that VW admitted it in the end, but now they will have to pay the price. Toyota can rest easy knowing that VW won’t be able to challenge their no.1 best-selling car brand in the world title.
So why not take back all the accolades won by BMW and VW?
You mention all the automakers but not Proton, why?