Volkswagen's sales and marketing director Robert Buechelhofer, 60, has resigned with immediate effect – with a company spokesman citing disagreements over "different opinions about distribution policy".

Buechelhofer has been with Volkswagen since April 1995, after spending time as an executive at BMW.

Since 1997, he has also been responsible for the Asia-Pacific region, and has spearheaded Volkswagen's drive into China. He has also worked in Austria for British Leyland and Ford.

A successor had not yet been chosen.

(Source: Electronic Telegraph)