Volkswagen emissions scandal: New boss Matthais Mueller says VW can “shine again”
The new boss of Volkswagen Matthais Mueller has said the car giant can "shine again" in the next two or three years.
Speaking to managers, Mueller hailed a new culture for the company, which he said needed to become more decentralised, with brands and regions becoming more independent.
Read more: German investor sentiment hit by VW scandal and declining emerging markets
During the speech in Leipzig Muller said:
We will significantly streamline structures, processes and [decision-making] bodies. We must become leaner and take decisions more rapidly.
Our competitors are only waiting for us to fall behind on technology matters because we are so preoccupied with ourselves. But we won't let that happen.
The comments come as Volkswagen announced it will recall 8.5m cars across Europe, including 2.4m vehicles Germany's transport ministry have ordered VW to recall and 1.2m cars in the UK.
In the UK some 508,000 VW cars, along with nearly 400,000 Audi vehicles, 132,000 Skodas and 77,000 Seats are affected. A further 80,000 commercial vehicles are also on the list.
This week UK transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said "I think [VW] are going to suffer very substantial damage as a result of [the scandal], and they deserve to", after VW UK's managing director Paul Willis admitted the company "has significantly let down its customers".
Read more: German government orders Volkswagen to recall 2.5 million cars affected by emissions scandal
Mueller, previously the head man at Porsche, took the helm of VW on 25 September, replacing former chief executive Martin Winterkorn who stepped down on 23 September saying he "accepted responsibility" for emissions scandal.