Herbert Diess

The Cariad software division, established under Diess to centralise the group's software development, accumulated delays, budget overruns and postponements of Audi and Porsche model launches. The difficulties weakened his position and contributed to his replacement by Oliver Blume in 2022.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Beyond the episode involving 30 000 jobs, Diess experienced an enduring governance conflict with employee representatives and several centres of power within the group. In December 2021, a compromise retained him as CEO but reduced his operational control; he was ultimately removed in 2022.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Diess warned the supervisory board that up to 30 000 jobs could be at risk if Volkswagen fell behind Tesla in the electric transition. The information triggered a major conflict with the works council.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Braunschweig prosecutors prosecuted Herbert Diess and Hans Dieter Pötsch for possible market manipulation, accusing them of informing investors too late about Dieselgate's financial consequences. In 2020, the proceedings were discontinued following a total payment of 9 million euros covered by Volkswagen.

Attribution

Accused

At a meeting of Volkswagen executives, Diess repeated the phrase 'EBIT macht frei' to emphasise brand profitability. Its similarity to 'Arbeit macht frei', displayed at Auschwitz among other places, provoked strong outrage.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

When questioned by the BBC about the mass internment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, where Volkswagen operated a factory through a joint venture, Diess said he did not know what the journalist was talking about and was unaware of the camps.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility