Volkswagen’s China operations faced a jolt as Jochen Sengpiehl, a senior executive, was expelled after testing positive for drugs upon returning from a Thailand vacation.

Sengpiehl, who had served as the automaker’s chief marketing officer for China since 2022, reportedly tested positive for traces of cannabis and cocaine, according to German media reports.

Detained by Chinese authorities, he was held for over 10 days before Volkswagen and German embassy officials secured his release.

However, his stay in China was abruptly cut short, as he was ordered to leave immediately. The German foreign ministry confirmed its involvement but remained tight-lipped about specifics.

Volkswagen’s silence on the matter adds another layer of tension as the company navigates a rapidly shifting market in China, where domestic electric vehicle manufacturers are swiftly gaining ground.

China’s zero-tolerance drug policies contrast sharply with Thailand’s evolving stance on cannabis, which was decriminalized in 2022, though new restrictions loom.

Sengpiehl’s departure compounds the pressures on VW in one of its largest and historically most profitable markets.

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