In a significant development nearly ten years after the diesel emissions scandal first came to light, a German court has convicted four former Volkswagen executives for their roles in the company’s emissions fraud. The verdict, delivered by the regional court in Braunschweig, marks a major milestone in the long-running legal reckoning for one of the auto industry’s most damaging corporate scandals.
Two of the former managers received prison sentences: the ex-head of diesel engine development was sentenced to four and a half years, while the former head of drive train electronics received two years and seven months. The remaining two defendants were handed suspended sentences of 15 and 10 months, respectively. The scandal, widely known as “Dieselgate,” erupted in 2015 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that Volkswagen had installed software in diesel vehicles to cheat emissions tests. The software enabled vehicles to meet regulatory standards during testing conditions, while in real-world driving they emitted pollutants far above legal limits.
Volkswagen has since paid more than €33 billion (approximately $37.5 billion) in fines, settlements, and compensation worldwide. Legal consequences have spanned multiple countries, including the United States, where two former VW managers were imprisoned. In Germany, former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler received a suspended sentence and a €1.1 million fine, though his case remains under appeal.
Notably, former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has not stood trial. Proceedings against him were suspended due to health concerns, and it remains uncertain whether he will face court. Winterkorn has denied any wrongdoing. German prosecutors continue to investigate 31 additional individuals in connection with the emissions manipulation, indicating that the legal and reputational consequences for Volkswagen and its former leadership are far from over.