The chief executive of German carmaker Audi, Rupert Stadler, has been under custody in links with an probe into the diesel emissions scandal.

A spokesman for Volkswagen, which owns Audi, confirmed he was being arrested.

Munich prosecutors noted they had acted because of a risk that Mr Stadler might seek to restrain evidence.

Worth mention here the scandal erupted three years ago. It was found that cars had been fitted with devices designed to deceive emissions tests.

The devices were initially found in VW's cars, but its Audi subsidiary has also been involved in the outrage.

Last month, it affirmed that another 60,000 A6 and A7 models with diesel engines have suffered with emission software issues.

That is on top of the 850,000 evoked last year by Audi, of which only some have been found to have need of modification.

Munich prosecutors stated that Stadler would be inquired by Wednesday, once he had spoken to his lawyers.

According to German newspaper reports Sueddeutsche Zeitung, VW's supervisory board has nominated Bram Schot to be the interim CEO at Audi following the arrest of Stadler.

However, Audi's supervisory board has yet to sign off on the recommendation, the paper further said.