Martin Winterkorn

Date of Birth: May 24, 1947

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Biography

Martin Winterkorn is a prominent German businessman best known for his tenure as the Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO) of Volkswagen AG, one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers. Born in Germany, Winterkorn’s career began in the engineering sector, where he quickly rose through the ranks due to his technical expertise and leadership abilities. He joined Audi AG, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, in 1981, and by 2002, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG. His success at Audi paved the way for his eventual role as CEO of Volkswagen AG in 2007. Under his leadership, Volkswagen became the largest automaker in the world by sales in 2016. However, his career was marred by the infamous “Dieselgate” scandal, where Volkswagen was found to have installed software in vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. Winterkorn resigned from his position in September 2015 amidst the scandal, expressing his profound regret over the situation. Despite the controversy, Winterkorn’s impact on the automotive industry remains significant, and his tenure at Volkswagen is marked by both tremendous growth and significant challenges.

5 Interesting Facts about Martin Winterkorn

1. Martin Winterkorn holds a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Stuttgart.

2. He began his career at Robert Bosch GmbH before moving to Audi AG.

3. Under his leadership, Volkswagen Group expanded its brand portfolio to include luxury brands like Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini.

4. Winterkorn was known for his hands-on management style and attention to detail, often personally inspecting vehicle designs.

5. Despite the Dieselgate scandal, Volkswagen achieved record sales and profitability during his tenure.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Martin Winterkorn

1. “I take responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines.”

2. “We will overcome this crisis because Volkswagen is a great company with a great team.”

3. “I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrongdoing on my part.”

4. “The trust of our customers and the public is and will continue to be our most important asset.”

5. “Volkswagen has always been a company that stands for quality, reliability, and innovation.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Martin Winterkorn was estimated to be around $1.2 billion at the peak of his career.

Children

Martin Winterkorn is known to be a private individual when it comes to his personal life. He is married to Karin Winterkorn, and together they have two children. However, detailed information about his children remains private and undisclosed to the public.