Buys VW scandal film rights
DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way and Paramount Pictures buy the film rights to an as-yet-unwritten book about the VW scandal, where the company admitted that 11 million of its diesel vehicles worldwide are fitted with software that beat emission tests. The book will be written by Ewing, a New York Times journalist, and it will reportedly explore the “more, better, faster” ethos and how it played into the scandal. It is not known whether DiCaprio will star in the film.
Appointed VW Group CEO
Müller is named Volkswagen Group CEO to replace Martin Winterkorn. His contract runs through the end of February 2020. Until a replacement is found, Müller will continue to be chairman of Porsche.
Resigns
Winterkorn announces his resignation. In a statement issued by the company Winterkorn says:
[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…[I am] not aware of any wrongdoing on my part [but] 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…I have always been driven by my desire to serve this company, especially our customers and employees. Volkswagen has been, is and will always be my life. The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust. I am convinced that the Volkswagen Group and its team will overcome this grave crisis.
A successor will determined at a supervisory board meeting on September 25. However, rumors earlier suggested he might be replaced by Porsche President and CEO Matthias Muller, and Rupert Stadler, Audi’s chairman and chief executive, although Volkswagen has denied this.