Fraud charges have been laid against a VW executive in the United States over the company's diesel emissions cheating.

A judge has ordered Oliver Schmidt be held in jail pending a hearing.

Schmidt was in charge of VW's environmental and engineering office in Michigan.

He appeared in court shackled and wearing a jail uniform.

He's charged with fraud and conspiracy in not disclosing a cheating device used to rig US diesel emissions tests.

He was arrested on Saturday in Florida after attempting to return to Germany from a holiday.