Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen AG’s CEO, resigned yesterday after it was discovered the German motor vehicle company has been rigging emissions tests for their diesel vehicles.
The company has not announced who his successor will be, but plans to discuss the issue tomorrow. Winterkorn has said that he was "shocked" by the rigging of the emissions tests. "Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group", Winterkorn said in a statement issued yesterday.
This resignation came after he issued an apology on Sunday about the emissions test rigging, which involved installing a program onto the company's diesel vehicles to manipulate test results. The program, referred to as a "defeat device", causes the vehicles to emit less nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant contributing to smog and possibly linked to asthma, during testing.
Volkswagen's share value has dropped by one third, The Toronto Star reported. The stock prices of France car manufacturers Citroen, Renault, and Peugeot have also dipped. The Associated Press states that this may be due to concerns other car manufacturers are also engaging in illegal acts.
Related news
- "Volkswagen engulfed by diesel emissions scandal" — Wikinews, September 22, 2015
Sister links
Sources
- Dana Flavelle. VW chief resigns over emissions scandal — The Star, September 23, 2015
- Geir Moulson and Pan Pylas (AP). Volkswagen CEO Winterkorn steps down amid emissions scandal — Global News, September 23, 2015
- Martin Winterkorn. Volkswagen Group Statement by Prof. Dr. Winterkorn — Volkswagen, September 23, 2015
Source & Attribution
Originally published by Wikinews on September 24, 2015. Original author: Wikinews.
CC BY 2.5. Photograph: File photo of Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen. Winterkorn resigned as CEO on Wednesday due to a scandal over the company's rigging of emissions tests for its diesel vehicles.
Image: Volkswagen Sweden. Photo: Volkswagen AG http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/volkswagen/images/winterkorn-377812 Source file. CC BY 3.0. CC BY 3.0.
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