Audi Quattro boss ousted over R8 delays

Another high profile shakeup at Audi

According to recent reports, Audi quattro GmbH Managing Director Franciscus van Meel has been reassigned over an internal dispute.

Details are limited but Audi says the move is "part of a planned rotation" that will see van Meel "take on a prominent role at Audi China later this year." However, insiders have said van Meel was ousted over a dispute with Technical Development boss Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg.

According to sources, Hackenberg is upset that the next-generation R8 has been delayed until early next year due to several last minute engineering changes. There are also rumors that van Meel's removal is due, in part, to the failure to launch a production version of the R8 e-tron.

Whatever the reasoning, van Meel will reportedly be replaced by Heinz Peter Hollerweger.

Source: Autocar