The investigation of Mr. Pötsch could also provide ammunition to investor groups and mutual funds that are suing Volkswagen in the United States and Germany. The suits claim that Volkswagen managers were aware of the impending scandal and failed to notify shareholders as required by law. A confidant of the Porsche and Piëch families who own a majority of Volkswagen’s voting shares, Mr. Pötsch was elevated to chairman of the supervisory board in October 2015. As chairman of the supervisory board, Mr. Pötsch oversees the management board. first accused Volkswagen of wrongdoing in September 2015, but Mr. Diess remains a member of the management board.

Source: New York Times November 06, 2016 16:15 UTC