BERLIN, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE said it will pull out of the world rally championship at the end of the season in 2017 as part of a strategic shift to help overcome its emissions scandal.
"The VW brand is facing tremendous challenges," VW brand R&D chief Frank Welsch said on Wednesday, citing the carmaker's push into zero-emission technology.
Top executives and labour leaders are aiming to agree a cost-cutting plan and strategy for the VW brand's operations in Germany in time for a meeting of the carmaker's supervisory board on Nov. 18 to ratify future spending plans.
The decision follows a similar move by VW's luxury flagship Audi NSUG.DE which last week announced it was pulling out of the World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours race.