Questions about Stadler’s role in the exhaust gas scandal

e In its own agenda item “Rupert Stadler” does not exist at the meeting of the supervisory board of Volkswagen on Monday. The pressure on the Audi boss at the weekend but after media reports of investigations against him in the United States because of the manipulation of diesel vehicles has become so large that the inspectors should have many questions, if the board in the afternoon his “update” on the latest developments in exhaust scandal gives.

Carsten Germis

Statements from witnesses who also burdened the Audi boss were reported to the American investigators, reported the “mirror”. This could also threaten him – like the former VW boss Martin Winterkorn – a charge of American justice. Also in Germany, the prosecutor investigates since last week against Stadler ,

In Wolfsburg, however, it is not expected that the Supervisory Board will replace the top manager. Internal findings confirmed the suspicion against him, was heard.

A8 is also being tested

And yet the pressure on the group is increasing. Stadler is among the top executives at Volkswagen, the one who has been making headlines for months in connection with the exhaust gas scandal. Critics accuse him of a slow processing of the scandal. The prosecution Munich II had announced last week, surprisingly, that they are investigating Stadler and another active board member of Audi has widened. They are accused of fraud as well as indirect false certification because diesel vehicles were brought to the European market with manipulated software.

Audi engineers are said to have co-developed the software built into the group’s diesel engines to manipulate exhaust emissions. Stadler is accused, even after the discovery of the scandal in the fall of 2015 to continue selling cars with manipulated engines. He has always rejected the allegations.

Audi had announced on Friday to complete the measurements of all engine-gearbox combinations in V 6 diesel engines and submit to the Federal Motor Transport Authority in July, the final assessment. As the “Bild am Sonntag” reported, Audi threatens further recalls by the Federal Motor Transport Authority. The authority examines the newest diesel model of the A8 on inadmissible defeat devices, it was said.

The Department of Transportation has said that the Office is constantly checking vehicles, and that applies to the A8. Only a year ago, the subsidiary had announced to examine 850,000 cars with six- and eight-cylinder engines. Half of the engines were in order, for 216,000 cars were arranged callbacks.