A US judge has ordered a Volkswagen executive charged over the diesel emissions investigation be held in jail pending trial.

Oliver Schmidt is one of six current and former VW executives charged this week in Detroit.

The other five are in Germany and are unlikely to be extradited.

Schmidt was arrested on Saturday at Miami's International Airport as he planned to fly home after a vacation.

A judge has ruled he's a flight risk.

If found guilty - he could face up to 169 years in prison.

Volkswagen itself has pleaded guilty and will pay over four billion US dollars in fines.