Emissions scandal: Audi chief Rupert Stadler is arrested in Germany

The German boss is the most senior official
to face criminal charges since the cheating first came to light in
2015

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German prosecutors in Munich say they carried out an arrest
warrant against “Mr Professor Rupert” earlier today as part of an
investigation into diesel affairs and Audi engines.

According to Reuters, a judge in Germany has ordered the
company chief to remain in custody in order to prevent him from
“obstructing or hindering” the diesel investigation.

Stadler is the most senior official in the Volkswagen group
(Audi’s parent company) to be held in custody since the diesel
cheating scandal was first exposed in September 2015, says the
BBC. 

Audi has also been embroiled in the scandal, the BBC adds.
Last year the car company recalled 850,000 models to check
“emission software issues”. A further 60,000 diesel-engined A6 and
A7 were added to the repair programme last month. 

Stadler’s arrest will be a major embarrassment for the VW
group. 

The group’s chief executive, Herbert Diess, is currently
introducing a new leadership structure – which includes Stadler –
as the company seeks to move away from diesel-powered vehicles in
favour of electric cars, The Guardian says. 

Despite numerous product recalls and leadership changes,
VW is still paying the price for its involvement in the scandal
relating to the rigging of US emissions tests on diesel
engines.

Last week, the car giant agreed to pay public prosecutors in Munich a
€1bn (£880m) fine for fitting its cars with “impermissible software
functions” that temporarily lowered nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions
during tests, Auto Express reports. 

Meanwhile former VW chief Martin Winterkorn was indicted by
US prosecutors last month in relation to claims he was aware of
emissions cheating “as early as 2014”, The Sunday Times says. This was a year before
the devices became public.