Newly Appointed Volkswagen North American Region Boss Resigns

Less than three weeks after being named president of the newly defined Volkswagen North American Region, Winfried Vahland has called it quits. He is leaving the Volkswagen Group after 25 years of service.

Vahland began working for the Volkswagen Group in 1990, and 15 years later, he assumed the position as CEO of Volkswagen in China. He then served as Skoda chairman in 2010 before being appointed to lead the brand new North American Region unit of Volkswagen. This new division, created after the diesel crisis, is intended to strengthen the company's struggling position in the U.S. as well as in Mexico and Canada.

He was expected to take on the new role starting November 1, but it looks like critical differences in opinion led him to resign early. "Differing views on the organization of the new [North American] Group region have led to this decision," a statement from Skoda read. "This decision is expressly not related to current events on the issue of diesel engines."

According to a report from German magazineAuto Bild, Vahland was skipped over for Volkswagen's top job. Instead, Porsche boss Matthias Muller took the helm as CEO of Volkswagen after Martin Winterkorn resigned in late September.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen is planning a massive overhaul to get past its Dieselgate scandal. Yesterday, we learned that VW has changed course with its new Phaeton flagship sedan and will completely renovate its diesel program.

Source: Skoda, Automotive News (Subscription Required)