Volkswagen to sack three high ranking execs, Porsche boss to be named new CEO amid diesel crisis – report

Porsche_Macan_World_Premiere_LA_Auto_Show_2013_with_President_and_CEO _Porsche_AG_Matthias_Muller (1)

This is hot off the press. Reuters reports that the Volkswagen Group will be turning to Porsche’s boss, Matthias Mueller (above) to take over from ex-CEO Martin Winterkorn, who resigned on Wednesday amid the on-going diesel scandal. It’s said that Mueller has the support of the 20-member supervisory board, though the company has so far declined to comment on this move.

As expected, more heads are set to roll over this major crisis. Reuters also reported that three more high ranking company executives are on the way out, including VW USA’s CEO Michael Horn, Audi’s head of R&D Ulrich Hackenberg and head of R&D at Porsche, Wolfgang Hatz. This is a serious matter, indeed.

Undoubtedly, this is the worst business crisis the company has had to face in its 78-year history.

In a separate report, German transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said that Volkswagen had manipulated tests in Europe too. “We have been informed that also in Europe, vehicles with 1.6 and 2.0 litre diesel engines are affected by the manipulations that are being talked about,” said Dobrindt, adding it was unclear how many vehicles in Europe were affected.

In the US, the news agency reports that at least 27 US state attorney generals are launching a multi-state investigation of Volkswagen’s representations to consumers regarding its diesel vehicles, and they will be sending subpoenas to the automaker as well.

“I am furious that the world’s leading car company willfully took steps that polluted our environment and deceived consumers,” Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said in a statement to the news agency.

diesel-cap

Just to recap, not only is the US EPA lobbying for a recall of roughly 482,000 VW and Audi vehicles, the VW group is facing possible fines of up to US$18 billion (RM79 billion), as well as criminal investigation by the US Justice Department. All this had led to the company shares plunging almost 30%.

Interestingly, it’s not only VW that is facing the heat of emission regulators. Germany’s Auto Bild, has revealed that the BMW X3 xDrive20d could be emitting up to 11 times the legal limit of nitrous oxide during tests conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), which is a breach of the Euro 6 limit for diesel engine emissions.

So, since this may not be a VW-specific issue, how many more automakers do you think are going to be hauled in for similar misdeeds?

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Anil Prabha

Anil Prabha has always been a petrol head. He also has a strange knack for remembering car models and their respective registration plates. Naturally aspirated engines are always better than turbocharged or supercharged ones, in his opinion. Ultimately, he believes that there is nothing better in life than just going for a drive.

 

Comments

  • What About Malaysia VW AG? on Sep 25, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    We Malaysians also suffer because of faulty DSG. Faulty DSG is also like Diesel Cheating. It is the same cheating.

    We in Malaysia also cheated because we have spent so much of money thinking we are getting a reliable and good German car.

    Nearly all owners are misled and have to endure continuous breakdowns and waiting in the hot sun for the tow truck to come

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 15
    • Porsche Boss Pls Help on Sep 25, 2015 at 2:29 pm

      Mr Mueller, please help Malaysians who bought a lemon DSG. VGM knew 7 years ago that DSG cars cannot handle our weather. Pls give VW owners compensation.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 6
      • VGM VGM Where Are you?? on Sep 25, 2015 at 3:18 pm

        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 sold before.

        Such an irresponsible brand in Malaysia.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 12
        • Disagree on Sep 28, 2015 at 3:28 pm

          Are you sure? None of friend aware about the scandal. They only knw about it when i tell them. Plus, it just happen in USA, Malaysia wont have this kind of issue one la. What so afraid for?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • What car you driving? U pretend to be an owner issit?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 7
    • Obamama on Sep 25, 2015 at 3:52 pm

      Bad week in auto industry.BMW CEO fainted on stage, VW CEO sacked.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • marcov on Sep 25, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    LOL p1 is better than BMW coz no cheating.
    p1 is better than Jepunis coz no killer airbags.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 11
    • tokmoh. on Sep 25, 2015 at 3:08 pm

      Proton even safer than Volvo, their HPF steel stronger than Volvo’s latest boron steel, win liao lor.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
      • kadajawi (Member) on Sep 28, 2015 at 8:32 am

        ??? Volvo probably also uses HPF. Also they don’t have to beat Volvo, don’t be ridiculous. But they are much closer to Volvo than to Perodua or Toyota, which is who they are really competing with. Cars in their price class are usually nowhere near as safe as the latest Proton models.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • persona on Sep 26, 2015 at 11:36 am

      What also like to drag in P1, stupid

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Sharon on Sep 25, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    Yeah, sack all. Now BMW. Better check all, including petrol and hybrid. Maybe there are some other defeat devices etc.

    Proton should do things right not only for what happened to Volkswagen, Audi etc. but in all other areas.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Oompah pah on Sep 25, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    This is like a nightmare; the Enron of the car industry; the 1mdb of the autoworld.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Kancil Hybrid on Sep 25, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    VW come and transfer your business to Bolehland, a land where scandals in the highest order will get protection!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • Susukotak on Sep 25, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    The law fovour 1 company not many.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • nabill (Member) on Sep 25, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    im just curious , this really doesnt sound as bad as Those faulty ignition fiasco by GM,unintended acceleration by toyota/lexus and honda’s tanaka airbags where all of them actually CAUSED FATALTIES!!
    i have a feeling this hoohaa is being played by rival brands to knock VW down a little…im not defending VW ofcourse , but in the auto industry there are so many instances of playing with numbers …
    and judging from major online forums regarding the issue,specially in europe , 99% of owners dont give a crap abt this , just like how toyota owners didnt give a crap abt their funny feeling accelerators , not GM owners selling their cars n rushing to other brand showrooms bcos of their happy-go-lucky ignitions…..jus sayin!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
    • W204 C63 AMG on Sep 25, 2015 at 3:10 pm

      Because GM and Toyota did not build cars that INTENTIONALLY kill people,but VWAG INTENTIONALLY build cars with defeat devices.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5
      • nosushi on Sep 26, 2015 at 9:47 am

        Which one is fatal, defeat device or killer airbags?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 7
        • Esoklah on Sep 26, 2015 at 11:41 am

          Exora

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
        • kadajawi (Member) on Sep 28, 2015 at 8:29 am

          Defeat device is probably more deadly. Polution is a big killer, it is just not as obvious or easy to see. Just look at the haze in Malaysia. Do you think that is healthy? I heard numbers like 60000 deaths in Europe because of polution, or something like that. The faulty airbags kill a hand full of people?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Goldie on Sep 25, 2015 at 3:22 pm

      U.S. Carmakers will jump in at first opportunity to whack any foreign car makers, European, Japanese or Koreans. As for Toyota, the solution was simply put 2 hooks to secure the floor mat and a written warning/ advice to owners not to add or change the mat. In Malaysia we have drivers who have slippers stuck and jammed the pedals. The lawsuits were a mean to quick bucks for the lawyers. The VW issues mainly because of act of cheating. But the CEO took the blame and stepped down. Instead of blaming his rivals spreading malicious rumours to bring him down. Got guts.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • adam abd on Sep 25, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Fuyoh US so powerful can bring down the Gerrman makers to their knees.
    Back home in Msia this whistleblower would be put behind bars under Sosma
    For attempt to sabotage Msias economy & sovereign.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 1
  • kadajawi (Member) on Sep 28, 2015 at 8:26 am

    Volvo, Opel, Peugeot (thus Citroen too), Hyundai (thus Kia too) and BMW are amongst those that seem to be cheating too. And 2007 Bosch warned VW that the software they delivered is only to be used for testing purposes and illegal for road cars. So it’s been going for a while, and VW totally knew what they were doing…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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