Volkswagen: One third less bonuses for VW board members – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The Boards of Volkswagen have struggled through in the face of public pressure to waive bonus payments. Now the group management is yet to specify how much the payments are reduced. “30 percent are definitely” an insider told the Reuters news agency. This number was a report, brought into play by CEO Matthias Müller.

The source said now, there are other approaches in the discussion in order to reduce the remuneration in addition. Conceivable is also that the board members invested in the company and thus abgäben a commitment to VW. In this context, would, for example, questioned that board members buy VW shares. Volkswagen did not elaborate.

The group had previously first time officially confirmed that the Management Board and Supervisory Board have agreed in principle to clear bonuses cuts. The cuts are to apply retroactively for supervisory board chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch, who was previously CFO of Volkswagen. According to information obtained by SPIEGEL, the manager in October 2015 was paid on joining the board at the head of the supervisory board compensation that his management contract would run until 2017 and guaranteed him significantly higher revenue. It should involve by almost ten million euros.

In the now ongoing debate about bonuses cuts makes especially the Land of Lower pressure, which holds a 20 percent stake in Volkswagen. It calls According to insiders, a complete waiver of bonuses. Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) said on Wednesday before the state parliament in Hanover, “a clear signal necessary” in the reduction of Vorstandsbonisei. One must in the debate on bonus payments account “and the expectations in the public”.

will be decided definitively in the next board meeting, which is scheduled for April 22.

VW is in trouble through the exhaust affair. The Group had added about six months ago to have used an illegal software. This detects whether a diesel vehicle is put to the test. Only then will the emission limits are complied with. Given the threat of fines and compensation claims, the Group has put billions aside and save even more. Europe’s largest carmaker, was so difficult in the third quarter for the first time for many years in the red.

The VW workers have to do without the usual profit-sharing for, 2015. You will receive instead a so-called token of appreciation, is negotiating their height. Council boss Bernd Osterloh wants to ensure that the employee is not alone to bear the burden by “Diesel Gate” and calls for a contribution of management.