MENU
SEARCHVolkswagen's dealers have thrown their support behind Michael Horn, the North American chief executive who has reportedly been fired amid a deepening scandal over the manipulation of diesel engine technology.
Photo courtesy of VW.
Photo courtesy of VW.
Volkswagen's dealers have thrown their support behind Michael Horn, the North American chief executive who has reportedly been fired amid a deepening scandal over the manipulation of diesel engine technology.
The scandal has "hit the dealers in the U.S. extremely hard," said Alan Brown, chairman of VW's National Dealer Advisory Council, in a statement obtained by Automotive Fleet.
"We have been suffering from an outdated product cycle, overpriced product, and a deteriorating relationship between the dealer body and Volkswagen for a number of years," Brown wrote. "That all changed when Michael Horn was made CEO of Volkswagen of North America in January of 2014."
Horn "tirelessly fought" for North American dealers to "correct the many missteps of prior management," Brown added.
Horn and two other executives will likely be fired Sept. 25 during the company's executive board meeting. Volkswagen AG's chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigned on Sept. 23. Ulrich Hackenberg, who oversaw Audi's research and development and Wolfgang Hatz, who was in charge of R&D for Porsche, are expected to lose their jobs, reports Reuters. Matthias Muller, now the Porsche chief executive, is expected to replace Winterkorn.
Winfried Vahland, who runs the company’s Skoda division, will likely take over for Horn, reported Bloomberg via Auto Bild magazine.
Brown said the removal of Horn would be "nothing short of catastrophic to our market and our relationship."
In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.
Read More →
AI is no longer a future concept for fleets—it’s already embedded in the tools, data, and decisions that operators rely on every day. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, recorded live at Fleet Forward, industry leaders take the conversation beyond hype to examine what responsible AI adoption really looks like in fleet operations.
Read More →
As fleets rethink how they capture, manage, and act on vehicle data, telematics is at a major inflection point. In this episode of the Fleet Forward Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most pressing questions facing fleet leaders today: Should you rely on OEM factory-installed connectivity, aftermarket devices, or a hybrid of both?
Read More →
Experts from telematics analytics, fleet-as-a-service operations, and national EV benchmarking share how real-time data is reshaping fleet strategy—dispelling assumptions, validating best practices, and exposing costly missteps.
Read More →
A powerhouse panel featuring experts from the American Automotive Leasing Association, CalSTART, and municipal fleet leadership dives into the realities of navigating shifting emissions rules, regulatory waivers, federal agency actions, the future of the EPA’s endangerment finding, and the push for unified standards. They also examine the impacts of tariffs, autonomous vehicle policy, battery innovation, and the accelerating global EV market.
Read More →
This episode kicks off with a deep dive into the technologies and market forces reshaping today’s fleet landscape. Host Chris Brown is joined by Laolu Adeola (Leke Services), Tyson Jomini (J.D. Power), and Richard Hall (ZappiRide) to break down real-world data, shifting incentives, and practical strategies fleet leaders can use right now.
Read More →
In the middle of natural disasters fleet managers must shift priorities to protect people and assets. What policy items should be loosened, and when should the line be held?
Read More →
In this episode, fleet leaders from municipal, university, and private-sector organizations share a candid EV reality check. From infrastructure setbacks and policy whiplash to grant funding, total cost of ownership, and charging resiliency, this conversation dives into what it actually takes to scale electrification in the real world.
Read More →
A running list of the fleet industry’s most influential leaders, recognized for their lasting impact on commercial fleet management.
Read More →
After a decade of lagging compensation, fleet manager pay is climbing. But expanding responsibilities, larger fleets, and growing complexity continue to redefine the role.
Read More →
