Audi chief executive, Rupert Stadler has been arrested in connection with the VW diesel emissions scandal.

Prosecutors have confirmed that Mr Stadler has been detained as of Monday by German authorities.

The Munich prosecutor’s said in a statement: “As part of an investigation into diesel affairs and Audi engines, the Munich prosecutor’s office executed an arrest warrant against Mr Professor Rupert Stadler on June 18, 2018.”

This was later confirmed by Volkswagen spokesperson. Volkswagen is the parent company of Audi.

“We confirm that Mr Stadler was arrested this morning. The hearing to determine whether he will be remanded is ongoing.”

The scandal was exposed over three years ago, when it was revealed that cars had been fitted with devices designed to cheat US emissions tests.

Whilst the devices had initially been exposed in VW cars, Audi vehicles were also later implicated.

Last month Audi conceded that an additional 60,000 A6 and A7 models with diesel engines also have issues with similar software.

Stadler is currently being detained and will be questioned on Wednesday after he has spoken to his lawyers.

Stadler is the highest profile individual to thus far be arrested in connection to the case.

Charges were filed in the US against former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in May, but he is unlikely to face authorities because Germany does not extradite nationals from countries outside the EU.

VW shares are currently down -2.73 percent as of 13.27PM (GMT).