Audi CEO Stadler arrested, Schot appointed interim chief

Dieselgate keeps on reverberating. Just days after VW got fined €1 billion in Germany, Audi top executive Rupert Stadler was arrested at his home in Ingolstadt, Germany, this morning. Munich prosecutors said in a statement they took Stadler into custody because of risk he may tamper with evidence. The Audi top executive is suspected to have falsified public documents pertaining to diesel cars in Europe.

Stadler joined Audi in 1990, where he worked alongside the then-head of development Martin Winterkorn, who resigned as VW CEO when the emission scandal erupted. The U.S. Justice Department issued a warrant for Winterkorn’s arrest in May.

In the meantime it has been confirmed that Dutchman Bram Schot will be appointed interim chief. The 56-year-old head of sales and marketing at Audi joined VW in 2011 and held different positions at the commercial vehicles unit. He became a member of Audi’s management board only last year.

Picture copyright: Audi, 2018