Good morning and welcome to our continuing coverage of the emissions cheating scandal that has rocked German automotive giant Volkswagen to its core. European stock markets are set to open lower today following weak manufacturing data from China and the ripple effect from the VW scandal. "Of all the factors that we saw yesterday the one that is most likely to be a particular worry is the spill over effects this drama surrounding Volkswagen will have on the wider German economy in the weeks and months ahead at a time when there appears to be some evidence that growth may well be slowing in the euro area," says Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK. Roughly one in six German jobs depends in some way on the car industry, as well as 17.9pc of German exports, and this week’s events have tarnished the German car industry's previously spotless reputation. Germany is also the powerhouse of the ailing eurozone economy which can ill afford a setback to growth. "It is going to take quite a lot of skilled panel work to repair the dents in the 'Made in Germany' brand, particularly given this scandal has exposed a deliberate attempt to deceive. What can they have been thinking?" says Mr Hewson. Accordingly, this disaster could have implications for German GDP growth in the months ahead.