BERLIN (REUTERS) - Volkswagen has suspended the R&D chiefs of its core VW brand, luxury division Audi and sports carmaker Porsche, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday (Sept 28).

The carmaker's supervisory board last Friday agreed to put a number of employees on leave until the details of Volkswagen's emissions cheating scandal were cleared up, without providing names.

Reuters reported last Thursday that VW would fire top brand executives as it tries to recover from the scandal.

Audi, VW and Porsche declined comment.

(This story is developing)