Düsseldorf The news hit last Thursday Volkswagen-Boss Herbert Dias Absolutely amazing. The head of the supervisory board, Hans Dieter Pötz, had asked for an interview at short notice for lunch, and what the VW boss heard was unthinkable to Diess up to that point. At least if you believe the details from the automaker’s inner circle of power. POTsch informed Dias on Thursday that the supervisory board no longer wanted to continue working with him.

For Herbert Dice, according to those around him, it was a shock. The manager had considered himself irreplaceable. Didn’t he constantly trim VW for electromobility? And had they not survived every crisis of leadership till date? Internally, he called the 63-year-old invincible, as he repeatedly faced speculation about his expulsion – and always remained in his position.