In an attempt to strengthen the brand’s operational performance in North America after the legal and image problems stemming from “dieselgate”, VW has named Hinrich J Woebcken as Head of the North America region.
The new VW boss assumes responsibility for all activities of the company’s Passenger Cars brand in the region and he also becomes Chairman of Volkswagen Group of America, Volkswagen Mexico and Volkswagen Group Canada.
Michael Horn continues his job as President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, a position occupied since 2014.
Before being appointed with the firm’s North America operations, 55-year old Woebcken was a Member of the Executive Board and CEO Commercial Vehicle Systems at Knorr Bremse AG.
He comes from a previous job with BMW AG, where he was named Division Manager Technical Purchasing, in 2004 and Division Manager Purchasing Vehicle Contract Manufacturing, Raw Materials Management and Indirect Purchasing, later on. Woebcken was subsequently appointed Division Manager Driving Dynamics for all BMW Group product lines.
Volkswagen is rethinking its strategy, four months after the diesel emissions scandal that affects approximately 500,000 cars in the States. The company was also sued by the U.S. Justice Department, this month, for up to $48 billion, and there is a government ban on the sale of 2016 VW diesel vehicles.
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