VW Suspensions in Diesel Crisis Grow to 10 Senior Execs

Volkswagen AG has now suspended about 10 of it senior executives for their possible roles in rigging 11 million of the company’s diesel-powered cars to cheat on emission tests, sources tell the Financial Times.

Several of the managers were associated with development of the E 189 diesel engine family at the center of the scandal, according to the newspaper. VW has declined to verify the suspensions. FT’s sources say the actions are precautionary and emphasize the company has not determined culpability.   

FT says the list of those suspended to date includes:

• Richard Dorenkamp, VW’s former head of technical development for low-emission engines
• Ulrich Hackenberg, a member of Audi’s management board
• Wolfgang Hatz, a member of Porsche’s management board
• Heinz-Jakob Neusser, a member of VW’s management board
• Falko Rudolph, former chief of diesel engine development
• Frank Tuch, VW’s head of quality control

Sources tell the newspaper another four unidentified executives also have been suspended. Hackenberg and several others are disputing their suspensions, according to German media reports.

FT adds that investigators also are trying to determine why VW’s management board waited two weeks before advising the supervisory board that the company admitted to U.S. regulatory officials it had rigged diesels to cheat on federal pollution tests.