Senior Porsche manager arrested as ‘dieselgate’ investigation gains pace

A SENIOR manager at Porsche has been arrested in Germany in connection with the “dieselgate” emissions scandal, it has emerged.

The identity of the arrested man has not been confirmed, but he is believed to be Jörg Kerner, head of powertrain development at the car maker.

Prosecutors confirmed that a Porsche employee was held in the course of investigations. He has not been charged and is being held in preventive custody because there is a risk of flight.

The arrest follows raids earlier this week that targeted senior figures at Porsche including a board member, believed to be Michael Steiner, the head of development.

The scandal, which centres on the use of software to cheat emissions tests, began at Volkswagen but has since spread. Porsche has largely managed to escape involve- ment until now because it does not make diesel engines of its own, but uses those of its sister company Audi.

But investigators now appear to be focusing on suspicions that Porsche knowingly fitted engines equipped with illegal emissions rigging software to cars. Oliver Blume, Porsche’s CEO, denied allegations of wrongdoing in an email to staff yesterday.