Photo: Volkswagen of America
Michael Horn, the former CEO of Volkswagen of America, was reportedly ousted from his job because of frequent tensions with the headquarters of the company, claims a top Volkswagen dealer.
According to Alan Brown, the head of Volkswagen’s National Dealer Advisory Council, the decisions that Michael Horn made as gestures of goodwill to the owners of dieselgate-affected vehicles were not appreciated by his German counterparts.
According to Mr. Brown, the clash that started over $1,000 gift cards and vouchers for use in Volkswagen dealerships was one of many between the former Volkswagen of America CEO and his German equivalents.
Alan Brown represents a Volkswagen dealer in Texas, and he claims that Horn has had several differences with Wolfsburg bosses over the two years he spent as CEO of Volkswagen of America.
Some of the unconfirmed reports include requests from Horn for Volkswagen to introduce more SUVs to the American market, as well as other cars that were best suited to customers’ preferences in the country. However, the source mentioned by Mr. Brown reports that the demands of Michael Horn were often denied by Volkswagen leaders.
The Volkswagen Dealer Council official states that Michael Horn has done an excellent job as CEO of the American branch of Volkswagen. According to a formal statement of the Council, Mr. Horn secured commitments for better products for US customers, and he also managed to repair fractured relations with the company and dealers.
These relations were reportedly “eroded for decades by failed promises of success.” The promises allegedly came from the mother company, Volkswagen AG.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson responsible for Volkswagen declined to comment an inquiry made by Associated Press regarding this topic. This week, Mr. Michael Horn has announced that he decided to leave the company and pursue other opportunities.
Sources close to Alan Brown claimed that the leaders in Wolfsburg wanted to move Horn to another subsidiary, but the former CEO insisted on leaving because he was upset the company brought an executive above him in the chain of command of Volkswagen of America.
According to Mr. Brown, the clash that started over $1,000 gift cards and vouchers for use in Volkswagen dealerships was one of many between the former Volkswagen of America CEO and his German equivalents.
Alan Brown represents a Volkswagen dealer in Texas, and he claims that Horn has had several differences with Wolfsburg bosses over the two years he spent as CEO of Volkswagen of America.
Some of the unconfirmed reports include requests from Horn for Volkswagen to introduce more SUVs to the American market, as well as other cars that were best suited to customers’ preferences in the country. However, the source mentioned by Mr. Brown reports that the demands of Michael Horn were often denied by Volkswagen leaders.
The Volkswagen Dealer Council official states that Michael Horn has done an excellent job as CEO of the American branch of Volkswagen. According to a formal statement of the Council, Mr. Horn secured commitments for better products for US customers, and he also managed to repair fractured relations with the company and dealers.
These relations were reportedly “eroded for decades by failed promises of success.” The promises allegedly came from the mother company, Volkswagen AG.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson responsible for Volkswagen declined to comment an inquiry made by Associated Press regarding this topic. This week, Mr. Michael Horn has announced that he decided to leave the company and pursue other opportunities.
Sources close to Alan Brown claimed that the leaders in Wolfsburg wanted to move Horn to another subsidiary, but the former CEO insisted on leaving because he was upset the company brought an executive above him in the chain of command of Volkswagen of America.
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