Car and driver Canada

As part of the continuing fallout from its diesel-emissions cheating scandal, Volkswagen is doing some housecleaning and some reorganizing. The company already has broomed several top engineers, and CEO Martin Winterkorn has stepped down. Now come changes that directly affect our side of the pond.

Volkswagen is consolidating its United States, Mexico, and Canada operations under a single umbrella, in a move that it describes as “decentralization.” Taking the role of president and CEO of the newly formed Volkswagen North America is Dr. Winfried Vahland. Michael Horn remains president and CEO of Volkswagen in America.

Vahland comes to his new position from Škoda, where he led the brand; he previously headed the China region. He started at the Volkswagen Group with Audi in 1990

The combining of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is seen as a way to give the region a more powerful voice back in Wolfsburg. And indeed, Dr. Vahland will be given a seat on the Board of Management for Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Hopefully, that will be enough to head off the next bad idea for dealing with the American market.