Volkswagen Board Totally Cool With Management's Actions, Despite Ongoing Investigation

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Investigators are still probing Volkswagen’s actions in the diesel emissions scandal, but the board that oversees the actions of the company’s top brass isn’t too concerned.

The supervisory board, made up of investor and labor interests, just cleared Volkswagen’s management of any breaches of duty in 2015 in preparation for their annual shareholders meeting, Bloomberg reports.

To say 2015 was an eventful year for Volkswagen is akin to saying Neil Armstrong had fun in the late ’60s. It was so eventful, its CEO took a permanent vacation. Many medicine cabinets in Wolfsburg were likely renovated to handle an influx of new prescriptions.

Among the head honchos at Volkswagen cleared by the board was its CEO, Matthias Mueller, who took the helm when Martin Winterkorn left the top position shortly after the scandal broke. The board recommended that shareholders ratify management’s 2015 decisions, an action required by German law.

The significance of the board’s actions comes from the fact the members based their stance on facts arising from the internal investigation conducted by law firm Jones Day.

The investigation’s findings remain a secret until the process wraps up later this year, but if the supervisory board feels this confident, it’s easy to speculate that the report won’t finger existing management for wrongdoing in the “defeat device” saga.

That said, the investigation isn’t over, and everyone at Volkswagen is keeping mum on what the investigators have, or haven’t, uncovered.

This is the second (mild) piece of good news for Volkswagen execs this week. Recently, sources leaked news that the automaker is close to reaching a fix for its 3.0-liter TDI models in the U.S., one that keeps 85,000 vehicles on the road and avoids a costly buyback program.

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Montecarl Montecarl on May 11, 2016

    Yep....A loaded up 2016 VW Passat is looking more attractive about now

  • 6250Claimer 6250Claimer on May 11, 2016

    I recently noticed that the "new" 2015 Golf TDI's are again being sold by dealers, typically listed with little or no discount from MSRP. When did that start back up? Meanwhile most dealers are offering the gas versions of just about everything at steep discounts.

  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
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