Volkswagen AG is hiring independent auditors to review allegations of bribery at Europe's biggest carmaker, the company said on Friday. "We have contacted auditors KPMG and intend to commission them to review independently all that has happened," a spokesman quoted Chief Executive Bernd Pischetsrieder as saying.
VW has also asked German prosecutors to examine the allegations against former staff at its Czech unit Skoda.
Volkswagen stock, which fell more than 1 percent on Thursday amid concern about the allegations, gained 1.2 percent to 38.28 euros by 1040 GMT, bettering a 0.4 percent gain by the DJ Stoxx European car sector index.
Volkswagen's chief employee representative, Klaus Volkert, unexpectedly resigned as head of the group's works council on Thursday after media reports said he may be linked to the scandal, but he insisted he had done no wrong.