Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Volkswagen Group, resigns

The Volkswagen scandal shows no sign of easing, and today brought a new chapter in this story, which made headlines last Friday when US environmental authorities charged that software had been rigging the emissions of the vehicles of the German brand.

Over these past few days we have also learned that a total of 11 million vehicles are affected, and that they have this software installed, vehicles fitted with the 2.0 TDI-EA189 diesel engine. What has not been clarified is in which markets those vehicles were sold.

But while efforts continue to clarify more of this story, there is already one victim (besides the financial losses from the sharp fall in the German manufacturer’s share price): the executive chairman of the Volkswagen Group, who has resigned to make way for the renewal process that, in his view, the brand needs after acknowledging its responsibility. His successor will be announced this Friday, while Winterkorn leaves after eight years at the helm, with very strong business results in recent years, including the record profits of 2014.