24 September,2015 01:06 AM IST | | Agencies
Volkswagen’s chief executive Martin Winterkorn said yesterday he was resigning in the wake of a spiralling scandal over pollution test cheating
Martin Winterkorn
Wolfsburg: Volkswagen's chief executive Martin Winterkorn said yesterday he was resigning in the wake of a spiralling scandal over pollution test cheating.
Martin Winterkorn said that he is "endlessly sorry" that the world's top-selling carmaker squandered worldwide trust in its brand. Pic/AFP
"I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in Volkswagen," Winterkorn said.
"Volkswagen needs a fresh start - also in terms of personnel. I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation."
Earlier in the day he had said that he is "endlessly sorry" that the world's top-selling carmaker squandered worldwide trust in its brand.
The rapid-fire developments came as Volkwagen stunningly admitted that some 11 million of the German carmaker's diesel vehicles worldwide contain software that evades emissions controls, not just half a million cars that the US Environmental Protection Agency said violate the Clean Air Act.
Volkswagen will announce a new CEO on Friday, a board member said.
