Volkswagen announced on 18 June 2018 that Stadler had been arrested and taken into custody because, it was reported, a Munich court had identified a risk that evidence might be concealed or modified (“Verdunkelungsgefahr”). A spokesman for the prosecutor nevertheless insisted that the presumption of innocence continued to apply and, in the context of ongoing investigations, refused to comment further on the development. On 2 October 2018, Volkswagen issued a statement that the supervisory boards of Volkswagen and Audi agreed to a deal with Stadler to end his term as CEO and all contracts.

Stadler has been the chairman of the board and chief executive officer (CEO) of Audi AG since 1 January 2010, and served as its chief financial officer (CFO) since 12 January 2007.

Stadler has been a member of the supervisory board at MAN SE (alternate name Man AG) since 10 May 2007 and served as a Member of the supervisory board of Volkswagen Bank Gmbh, and Volkswagen Financial Services AG. He has served as a member of the economic advisory council of Bayerische Landesbank since 1 December 2005.

From 1997, he served as head of the board for the Volkswagen Group, and additionally head of group product planning from January 2002. He served as acting chairman of the board of Audi AG and its head of finance and organization until July 2007. He also serves as the chairman of Automobili Lamborghini Holding SpA and Volkswagen Group Italia SpA. He serves as vice-chairman and member of the supervisory board at German football club FC Bayern AG.

Rupert Stadler (born 17 March 1963) is a German businessman, and former chairman of the Vorstand (CEO) of Audi AG. He was arrested in June 2018 in connection with the Volkswagen emissions scandal. He was in custody in Germany until being released at the end of October 2018. In July 2019, Stadler was charged with fraud by prosecutors in Munich.