VW board will discuss future of Audi CEO Stadler, report says

Stadler is in custody on suspicion of interfering with an emissions investigation.
Jan Schwartz
Reuters
September 14, 2018 13:19 CET

BERLIN -- Volkswagen Group's supervisory board will meet Monday to discuss the future of Rupert Stadler, the suspended CEO of its Audi premium brand, German magazine Der Spiegel reported.

The board is due to decide whether Stadler, who has been in police custody since mid-June as part of a broader probe into emissions cheating at Audi, should give up his position, Spiegel said in a report published Friday.

Citing sources close to the company, Spiegel said it was probable that Stadler would be asked to relinquish the role because he is unable to perform the duties of an executive.

Both VW and Audi have said that Stadler is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.

In July, Volkswagen recruited BMW engine development and purchasing expert Markus Duesmann, who has been touted as a potential successor to Stadler as VW looks for clean-engine expertise to help it shake off its emissions scandal.

Stadler was forced to step down temporarily after he was taken into custody when Munich prosecutors who tapped his phone suspected him of interfering with their emissions investigation. Sales executive Bram Schot is acting as interim replacement.

A source told Reuters the reason for the supervisory board meeting was to discuss further steps towards a possible listing of VW's truck and bus subsidiary and not Stadler. However, sources close to the company expect that the board will also talk about Stadler although no decisions are expected.

VW declined to comment on the report.

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