Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen Group, resign today as the diesel emission-cheating crisis continued to grow unabated. He claimed he was unaware of any wrongdoing on his part in what he called a grave crisis.
“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 the Volkswagen Group., said Winterkorn. “As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group.”
So VW says that 11 million cars sold globally were equipped with the software that the Environmental Protection Agency said was used to beat emissions tests in the United States.; 500,000 in the United States, and estimates say ~10 million are in Europe.
There was at least one opposing voice to the Winterkorn resignation from Frost & Sullivan Principal Consultant, Martyn Briggs.
“The VW emissions scandal affair is unprecedented, owing to the apparent deceit involved to “cheat” the emissions testing. CEO Martin Winterkorn having to step down is not the right answer though, in my opinion, because the market could potentially rather gauge the result of this on his response, rather than on the fact that it happened in the first place,” he said.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
This is a big story following the GM ignition switch recall story, which had the loss of lives! Lots of questions that need to be answered.