Volkswagen AG says its top U.S. executive is stepping down immediately

Volkswagen AG said on Wednesday its top U.S. executive is stepping down nearly six months after the German automaker admitted to installing software to allow 580,000 diesel U.S. vehicles to emit excess emissions.

Michael Horn, that has been president and ceo of Volkswagen of the usa since 2014, is leaving “to pursue other opportunities effective immediately,” the organization said.

The German automaker said on an interim basis, Hinrich J. Woebcken, who had been recently named the brand new head from the North American Region and chairman of Volkswagen Number of America, will assume Horn’s role.

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Horn’s departure may come as VW continues to negotiate using the Justice Department and California on possible fixes or buybacks for that diesel vehicles.

? Thomson Reuters 2016