Herbert Diess’s future as the chief executive of Volkswagen remains uncertain after weeks of mounting pressure.
Earlier this month, a specially convened Volkswagen committee was established to discuss the future of Diess as CEO after he suggested the automaker could lose up to 30,000 jobs if its transition to electric vehicles is too slow. These comments didn’t go over well with union representatives.
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On Tuesday this week, Volkswagen’s supervisory board executive committee met to discuss the future of Diess. Attending the meeting included the likes of works council head Daniela Cavallo as well as representatives from the majority shareholder Piech and Porsche families. No decision was made during this meeting and according to one source, talks are “on a knife-edge.”
“This topic is so hot, it is on a knife-edge. I can’t say anything further,” a source told Reuters.
It is understood that the eight-person executive committee needs more time to find a compromise. Reuters adds that an agreement could depend on whether Diess agrees to change his management style.
A decision is expected to be made before a December 9 supervisory board meeting to discuss Volkswagen’s five-year spending plan. A resolution could come as part of a package including the announcement of new board members, details on job prospects for employees, and investment plans for the Volkswagen Group.
Diess canceled a planned trip to the United States earlier this month in a bid to soothe tensions with VW’s union leaders in Germany.
