Volkswagen has named Porsche chief Matthias Mueller as its new boss as the German car-maker deals with an emissions scandal.

Mr Mueller replaces Martin Winterkorn, who resigned this week after it was revealed VW had fitted millions of cars and vans with software that allowed them to falsely pass emissions tests.

The new CEO said that his priority is win back the trust that has been lost in the company after the scandal.

"Under my leadership, Volkswagen will do all it can to develop and implement the strictest compliance and governance standards in the whole industry," he vowed after being appointed by the company's supervisory board.

"We stand by our responsibility," he said, adding that "carefulness is even more important than speed".

Speaking at VW headquarters in the German city of Wolfsburg, Mr Mueller said the company had a chance to emerge stronger from the crisis.

Porsche is owned by VW, and Mr Mueller, 62, has worked for parts of the group for almost four decades.

The appointment comes as the UK Government begins its own investigation into the use of rigged data, which could see all diesel cars in Britain re-tested.

Details of the 11 million cars fitted with the dodgy software are also set to be released in the next day or two, which will tell drivers of diesel VWs, Audis, Skodas or Seats whether their vehicle could be recalled.

In the US, the Justice Department said it is taking the allegations against the company "very seriously" and announced an investigation.

The scandal has shocked Germany.

Acting chairman Berthold Huber used strong language as he issued an apology to customers, authorities and investors.

"I want to be very clear, the manipulation of tests for diesel engines is a moral and political disaster," Mr Huber said.