Audi's head of Sales and Marketing, Abraham Schot, is now the German carmaker's interim chairman. CEO Rupert Stadler was recently taken in custody regarding the VW diesel emissions scandal.
Schot has been the head of for sales and marketing at Audi since September 1, 2017. The company said Stadler has been released from his duties as the member of the Board of Management at both Audi and VW Group upon his request. "This release applies temporarily, until the circumstances that led to his arrest have been clarified," according to a company statement.
"The accused was brought before the investigating judge, who ordered the execution of the pre-trial detention," the Munich public prosecutor's office said in a statement. It added, "We cannot comment on the substance of our background in the light of the ongoing investigations. For Mr Stadler, the presumption of innocence continues to apply."
Stadler denies being involved in the Dieselgate emissions manipulation scandal.