Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller's visit to the United States didn't go too well last week.
He didn't leave the country with an agreement or resoultion with Environmental Protection Agency head Gina McCarthy for how to execute the recall of nearly 600,000 diesel cars in the U.S. affected by the automaker's emissions scandal.
Still mired in the trudge of that crisis, VW took a step in hoping to smooth over relations in the U.S. by appointing Hinrich J. Woebcken as its new North American chief Tuesday. He'll be responsible for the company's cars in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, effective April 1, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. With the hire, Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn will maintain his position.
Woebcken, 55, is a former BMW AG executive who worked closely with VW's brand CEO Herbert Diess, as reported by the Journal.
The news comes after Mueller's disappointing trip to the U.S.
"The U.S. trip was not very satisfactory. Everybody knows that, including Mr. Mueller," a source close to VW's supervisory board told the Journal.
That being said, Mueller's position as VW's CEO is not in danger, despite rumored reports that the embattled brand was considering relieving him of his duties over the weekend.
"Mr. Mueller's position was never in doubt," a spokesperson with the automaker told the Journal on Tuesday.
It might be a good thing that Woebcken doesn't officially take to his newly-appointed post until April 1, considering he'll have to time to help the company come up with a better proposal to make nearly 600,000 faulty diesel vehicles comply with U.S. emissions regulations.
