FRANKFURT— Volkswagen AG has a plan to refit vehicles affected by software that can rig an exhaust-emission test, the company’s new chief executive said, outlining what is expected to be a massive recall.

Matthias Müller told managers at Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg that a project team put together “a comprehensive action plan” over the weekend and would inform customers shortly about refitting their vehicles.

On Tuesday, Volkswagen said it would submit its technical solutions to regulators and environmental authorities for approval in October, and set up websites to inform affected customers.

Europe’s biggest car maker became engulfed in an emissions scandal after U.S. environment authorities said September 18 that it intentionally installed software in some diesel-powered cars to pass U.S. emissions tests. The company has since faced a management shake-up, a $25 billion drop in its market value and demands for clarification from authorities world-wide.

On Tuesday, the Volkswagen-brand car chief, Herbert Diess, was meeting with EU Industry Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska in Brussels to discuss the crisis, the EU Commission said.