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Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess unexpectedly steps down

July 22, 2022

Diess will be succeeded in his role by Porsche boss Oliver Blume, according to the carmaker.

https://p.dw.com/p/4EWxH
Volkwagen CEO Herbert Diess standing next to a car on an assembly line
Diess was previously prosecuted over the diesel emissions scandal Image: Jens Büttner/dpa/picture alliance

Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess unexpectedly submitted his resignation on Friday. 

Diess, 63, informed the board of supervisors of his decision, saying he would step down on September 1.

Volkswagen AG confirmed the news Friday evening in a statement, saying there had been "mutual" agreement on Diess' departure. 

VW announced that Diess would be replaced by 54-year-old Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, who will serve as CEO of both Volkswagen and Porsche. It was also confirmed that Blume, who is currently putting the final touches on Porsche AG's planned IPO this fall, will receive support in day-to-day operations from VW CFO Arno Antlitz.

Supervisory Board Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch thanked Diess for his service as CEO and for helping transform the company. 

Diess, previously a manager at BMW, took the reins at VW in April 2018. He pushed electrification at VW but ran into trouble with software development, among other things. 

He also often found himself at odds with the works council when it came to managing the company's budget.

VW boss: Carmaker must become 'more open'

js/wd (AFP, dpa, Reuters)