Berlin says 2.8 million vehicles in Germany affected by VW manipulations

According to reports, German automaker Volkswagen’s (VW) supervisory board is scheduled to hold a meeting on Friday, September 25; and will name Matthias Mueller as its new Chief Executive.

Mueller, 62, had been widely tipped to succeed Martin Winterkorn, who quit on Wednesday after admitting the world’s largest automaker had installed software created to cheat emissions testing on its diesel vehicles.

“From what we know now, not only passenger cars but small utility vehicles by Volkswagen are also affected”, Dobrindt said, adding that diesel engines involved include 1.2 litre, 1.6 litre and 2.0 models.

European Union regulators said they were in contact with Volkswagen and US authorities following the car-maker’s admission it had rigged emissions tests, and called on member states to rigorously enforce the relevant law.

“My most urgent task is to win back trust for the Volkswagen Group – by leaving no stone unturned and with maximum transparency, as well as drawing the right conclusions from the current situation”, Mueller said in a statement Friday.

Müller will also remain at the helm of Porsche until a replacement has been identified, but Volkswagen hasn’t given a timetable.

Volkswagen is under heavy pressure to show it can get to grips with the biggest business-related scandal in its 78-year history.

Mr Muller was appointed head of product management of the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen brand in 2007 and has been chairman of the executive board of Porsche since 2010.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced yesterday that diesel cars would be re-tested in the UK.

The crisis wiped out $22.4 billion from the company’s market value in a week’s time, with Volkswagen saying 11 million vehicles globally could be impacted.

And in the USA, the Justice Department said it is taking the allegations against the company “very seriously” and announced an investigation.

Since the EPA plans to test older cars that are no longer available from the manufacturers, the agency said it will borrow cars from individuals as well as businesses, such are rental auto companies, which own the vehicles it wants to test.