VW

The software that the company admitted using to get around government emissions limits allowed VWs to spew enough pollution to kill somewhere between 16 and 94 deaths over seven years, with the annual count increasing more recently as more of the diesels were on the road. The total cost has been well over $100 million.

No replacement was announced, and VW still has no easy exit from a scandal that has suddenly dented the reputation for trustworthiness it spent decades building.

Winterkorn took responsibility for the "irregularities" found by U.S. inspectors in VW's diesel engines, but insisted he was "not aware of any wrongdoing on my part."

"Volkswagen needs a fresh start — also in terms of personnel," his statement said. "I am clearing the way for this fresh start with my resignation."