Volkswagen Emission Scandal.

Senior directors of German carmaker Volkswagen are due to meet to discuss what action to take after the company was caught manipulating its diesel car emissions tests.

VW faces multiple probes in the US which could result in huge financial damage. The company, the world's biggest carmaker, has admitted it deceived US regulators in exhaust emissions tests. There is speculation over the future of VW chief executive Martin Winterkorn.

Reports in Germany suggest Mr Winterkorn has lost the support of key investors, following the revelation that the firm installed a device to circumvent emission test requirements for diesel cars in the US.

Volkswagen has said 11 million vehicles worldwide are involved and it is setting aside €6.5bn (£4.7bn) to cover costs of the scandal.

Volkswagen scandal

11 million Vehicles affected worldwide

• €6.5bn Set aside by VW
• $18bn Potential fines
• No. 1 Global carmaker in sales

In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board are investigating the way VW cheated tests to measure the amount of pollutants coming from its diesel cars.

According to news agencies Bloomberg and AFP, the Department of Justice is also looking into the issue, which raises the possibility of the company and individual executives facing criminal charges.

A DoJ criminal investigation would be serious, as federal authorities can bring charges with severe penalties against a firm and individuals.

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