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Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigns Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigns
(34 minutes later)
Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn has resigned over the manipulation of US diesel car emissions tests. Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn has resigned following the revelation that the firm manipulated US diesel car emissions tests.
In a statement he said he was "shocked by the events of the past few days". Mr Winterkorn said he was "shocked" by recent events and that the firm needed a "fresh start".
"I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part," he said. He added that he was "not not aware of any wrong doing on my part" but was acting in the interest of the company.
"I am clearing the way for a fresh start with my resignation," he added. VW has already said that it is setting aside €6.5bn (£4.7bn) to cover the costs of the scandal.
Volkswagen, the world's biggest carmaker, has admitted it deceived US regulators in exhaust emissions tests by installing a device to give more positive results. The world's biggest carmaker admitted last week that it deceived US regulators in exhaust emissions tests by installing a device to give more positive results.
It has already said that 11 million vehicles worldwide are involved and it is setting aside €6.5bn (£4.7bn) to cover costs of the scandal. The company said later that it affected 11 million vehicles worldwide.
"I am clearing the way for a fresh start with my resignation," Mr Winterkorn said in his statement.
He said he was "stunned" at the scale of the misconduct in the group but that he was confident that VW would overcome this "grave crisis".
"The process of clarification and transparency must continue. This is the only way to win back trust," he continued.
In a separate statement, the supervisory board said they would announce Mr Winterkorn's successor at a board meeting on Friday, adding that it was "expecting further personnel consequences in the next days" as a result of its own investigations.
"The internal group investigations are continuing at a high tempo," it said.
"All participants in these proceedings that has resulted in unmeasurable harm for Volkswagen will be subject to the full consequences."