Volkswagen set to turn the table around for a new boss.

On the agenda will be choosing a replacement for chief executive Martin Winterkorn, who resigned on Wednesday.

Reports have said that the front-runner for the top job is Porsche chief executive Matthias Mueller.

VW is also expected to dismiss executives tainted by the scandal over the rigging of emissions tests by software in its diesel cars in the US.

In addition, further details on the brands and locations of the 11 million cars involved are due to be set out.

US authorities found that software in a particular diesel engine used by Volkswagen could detect when it was being tested and reduce the emissions produced.

It meant that the emissions in actual driving were considerably higher than those found during testing.

The contenders

Matthias Mueller comes from an engineering background and certainly knows the brands involved, having joined VW-owned Audi in 1977. He was put in charge of all vehicle projects for Volkswagen in 2003.

He is seen as a likely successor because he is popular with the families that control VW. He was already being cited as a likely successor to Mr Winterkorn in April, during the power struggle with then-chairman Ferdinand Piech.

Porsche is owned by Volkswagen, but confusingly, VW itself is controlled by Porsche SE, the holding company, which Mr Mueller is already on the board of.

Another potential successor is Herbert Diess, the current head of the Volkswagen brand.

Mr Diess only joined VW from BMW in July, so will not be tainted by the scandal.

He had a reputation for cost-cutting at BMW, having worked across the group, including a spell at BMW's Mini plant in Oxford.

Given the losses already expected as a result of the emissions scandal, cost-cutting is likely to be a priority.

Rupert Stadler heads up VW's Audi brand, and is the third of the big brand-bosses in the frame to potentially be the next overall chief executive.

Being in charge of Audi also puts him in control of Ducati, Lamborghini and a chunk of Bayern Munich football club.

Before the emissions scandal he was being tipped as a possible replacement for Hans Dieter Potsch as chief financial officer.

He is unusual among the frontrunners because he comes from a finance background instead of engineering.

Hans Dieter Potsch, who began his career at BMW, is chief financial officer of both Volkswagen and the controlling Porsche SE.

He was tipped earlier this month to become the new chairman of VW, replacing Ferdinand Piech, although he could not do so until he had been elected onto the supervisory board by shareholders in November.

His reported board-level support for the post suggests he could also be brought in as chief executive.

If the board decides to look outside Volkswagen it may consider Elmar Degenhart, chairman and chief executive of the tyremaker Continental.

Being head of a supplier to the car industry means he would be safe even if the investigations sparked by the emissions scandal were to extend to other car companies.