Asia Tech Wire (Sep 25) -- Volkswagen investors are stepping up pressure on Oliver Blume to give up his dual role as chief executive of Porsche and its parent company, according to the Financial Times.

This comes as Europe's biggest carmaker faces its biggest crisis in decades, considering closing a car manufacturing plant in Germany for the first time and implementing job cuts.

Volkswagen Group Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz said earlier this month that the brand would have to cut expenses and adjust production to survive the transition to electric cars.

In response, Germany's most influential union, IG Metall, threatened a strike that would paralyze Europe's largest automaker for weeks.

"How can he do both jobs in the right way when the automotive industry is in a structural crisis?" asked Ingo Speich, head of corporate governance at Deka Investment, one of the top 15 holders of Volkswagen's preferred shares.