German Court Sentences Former Volkswagen Managers in Emissions Scandal
A German court has found four former managers of Volkswagen guilty of fraud, sentencing two of them to prison for their involvement in the emissions control scandal. The decision comes nearly a decade after the revelations of the automaker’s manipulation of diesel-engine vehicle emissions.
According to the German news agency dpa, the court in Braunschweig delivered a four and a half year prison sentence to the former head of diesel development. Meanwhile, the head of drive train electronics received a sentence of two years and seven months. The remaining two managers were given suspended sentences of 15 months and 10 months, respectively.
The emissions scandal initially came to light in September 2015 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice. It accused Volkswagen of using engine control software designed to pass emissions tests while the vehicles emitted significantly higher levels of pollutants during regular driving conditions.
Since the scandal broke, Volkswagen has paid over $33 billion in fines and settlements to affected vehicle owners. In the U.S., two Volkswagen managers have been imprisoned. Rupert Stadler, the former head of the Audi division, received a suspended 21-month sentence along with a fine of 1.1 million euros ($1.25 million), although this sentence is still open to appeal.
The trial, which extended over four years, notably lacked the presence of former CEO Martin Winterkorn. Proceedings against Winterkorn have been put on hold due to health concerns, leaving uncertainty regarding his potential trial. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Additionally, there are ongoing investigations involving 31 other suspects in Germany.
