MUNICH -- At least four high-ranking Volkswagen Group executives will be forced to quit as part of VW's attempt to clear up its diesel emissions scandal, media reports said.
Audi r&d boss Ulrich Hackenberg and Porsche's engine chief, Wolfgang Hatz, will be dismissed at a meeting of the supervisory board on Friday, Bild newspaper said, citing unnamed company sources.
Hackenberg, 65, was a longtime VW brand executive, while Hatz, 56, is VW Group's head of engines and transmissions in addition to his Porsche role.
VW's current U.S. chief executive, Michael Horn, will also be fired, Reuters reported. Winfried Vahland, chief executive of VW's Czech division, Skoda, is the favorite candidate to take charge of VW's U.S. operations, sources told Reuters. VW will create a special position for the U.S. on its management board, the sources said.
VW brand development chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser will also be forced out, Spiegel reported, citing no sources.
VW will appoint Juergen Stackmann, the head of its Seat brand, to its management board as its new sales chief, Auto Motor Sport reported. Audi sales chief Luca de Meo is the top candidate to replace Stackmann at Seat, the magazine said.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, who had been seen as a candidate to become VW Group CEO after Martin Winterkorn resigned, will remain in his post, Auto Motor Sport said.
Matthias Mueller, the head of the Porsche sports-car brand, will be named VW Group CEO to replace Winterkorn, Reuters reported. Mueller, VW Group's former head product strategist, has a majority on the 20-member supervisory board, a Reuters source said.
Winterkorn resigned on Wednesday after taking responsibility for the automaker's rigging of U.S. diesel emissions tests. He said he knew nothing of any wrongdoing.
The supervisory board's executive committee said on Wednesday that executives found to be involved in cheating diesel emissions tests "will be subject to the full consequences."
Reuters contributed to this report
