VW scandal: Research heads at three divisions ‘suspended’

Scandal-plagued Volkswagen is said to have suspended the research and development heads of three of its divisions. The R&D chiefs working with its core passenger car division, luxury brand Audi and sports car maker Porsche are reported to have been put on leave, although all three companies declined to comment. The news comes in the wake of a series of revelations regarding the so-called “defeat devices” fitted to some 11m vehicles worldwide that are designed to cheat emissions tests.

He (Muller) knows the group and its brands well and can immediately engage in his new task with full energy.

Berthold Huber, interim chairman of the company’s supervisory board

It emerged over the weekend that senior figures at VW were warned two years ago of the cheat devices. The scandal, which has led to a raft of lawsuits and the prospect of the German company being fined billions, has already seen former chief executive Martin Winterkorn quit, to be replaced by Matthias Muller. Shares in VW have tumbled over the past week, wiping more than a third off the value of the company and dragging down other car makers.

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