Volkswagen is replacing its head of software development, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Sunday, as the German automaker continues its transition to electric vehicles.
The newspaper said Christian Senger, a former BMW manager who operates the recently founded Car.Software.Org unit, was to be replaced after clashes with the company and concern at software problems with the new ID.3 and Golf 8 vehicles.
Senger was part of a network of external managers CEO Herbert Diess had brought in to restructure the company. Senger, after working on BMW’s i3 electric car, assisted Volkswagen in making its MEB electric car platform, a key pillar of its revival following the 2015 diesel emissions scandal.
The software post is among the most important in the development of the new electric vehicles, which are much more reliant on computer power than the combustion engine.
Volkswagen has not commented on the report.
The other recent modifications to the posts have included Andreas Renschler, a former Mercedes-Benz manager quit his post as head of the Traton Trucks unit, and Stefan Sommer, a former Chief Executive of auto supplier ZF, leave his post at Volkswagen.
Senger was also set to quit his post as a member of the board of Volkswagen’s core VW brand, the newspaper noted, although it added that CEO Herbert Diess was hoping he would stay with the automaker.
The automaker’s staff council, led by Bernd Osterloh, has forced out cost-cutters at the company before. Wolfgang Bernhard, a former VW brand chief and Bernd Pischetsrieder, a former head of the Volkswagen Group, quit after the clashes with labor leaders.
