Volkswagen AG directors are expected to terminate the contract of embattled Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, who has been jailed since June in connection with the company's widespread diesel emissions violations, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
An announcement is expected to come after a meeting of Volkswagen’s directors in Wolfsburg on Friday, but could still be delayed, the paper said.
Stadler, a Volkswagen veteran, had overseen Audi since 2010 until he was suspended in June.
His attorney wasn't immediately available for comment, the Journal said.
Stalder's termination would be the latest step and management change taken by Volkswagen Group to put the diesel emissions crisis behind it and move on.
Stadler, 55, was jailed in June, when he was arrested on charges that he tried to tamper with witnesses under a criminal probe into the company’s efforts to install prohibited software on diesel engines to make them pass government emissions tests.
Stadler denied any wrongdoing at the time and pledged to cooperate with the investigation.
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.