VW emissions scandal: Volkswagen suspends head of transmissions plant

The head of Volkswagen's main transmissions plant has become the latest employee suspended over the company's emissions cheating scandal.

Falko Rudolph, who ran the auto giant's main factory in Kassel, Germany, was investigated internally after allegations that the company fitted defeat devices in its vehicles emerged last month.

Rudolph, who previously ran VW's main engines plant in Salzgitter, oversaw the development of diesel engines at VW between 2006 and 2010.

VW declined to comment.

Giving evidence before the Environmental Audit Committee on Thursday, VW's UK head Paul Willis said that Volkswagen had fallen short of expectations but that he knew those in charge personally and he doubted that there was intent to mislead.

Volkswagen has said that 11 million cars worldwide are affected by the emissions scandal, in which the car manufacturer used software to decrease the emission of toxic nitrogen dioxide during tests.

The transmission plant at Kassel is the main factory for Volkswagen exhaust systems, but it also supplies body parts and gear boxes.

According to the Volkswagen website, 43% of the exhaust systems of Volkswagen in Europe were produced at the Kassel plant.