The long-awaited trial of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is finally set to commence on Tuesday in relation to the infamous “dieselgate” scandal. This scandal, which surfaced nine years ago, rocked the foundation of the German auto giant. Winterkorn faces a slew of charges, including fraud, for his alleged involvement in installing software to manipulate emissions levels in millions of vehicles worldwide.
Charges Against Winterkorn
Winterkorn is accused of orchestrating the use of defeat devices in Volkswagen vehicles, which artificially lowered emissions during lab tests. This deception misled buyers about the true environmental impact of the cars they purchased. The alleged fraud impacted approximately nine million vehicles sold in Europe and the United States, resulting in significant financial losses for consumers.
Legal Troubles
Apart from fraud charges, Winterkorn is also accused of giving false testimony to a German parliamentary committee during the investigation into the scandal. He claimed he only became aware of the defeat devices in September 2015, but prosecutors argue that he knew about them much earlier. Additionally, Winterkorn is facing a charge of market manipulation for allegedly withholding information from the capital market about the emissions-rigging software.
Winterkorn’s trial was initially scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to his declining health. However, a regional court in Braunschweig recently announced that the proceedings against him would resume this month. There are mounting concerns about Winterkorn’s health, especially after reports emerged that he had undergone surgery in June. The trial is expected to span over several years, with 89 hearings scheduled until September 2025.
While Winterkorn faces legal repercussions for his alleged role in the dieselgate scandal, Volkswagen has taken steps to distance itself from the proceedings. Despite Winterkorn’s agreement to pay the company 11 million euros in 2021, Volkswagen clarified that it is not directly involved in the trial but will be monitoring its developments closely. The scandal has already cost Volkswagen approximately 30 billion euros in fines, legal fees, and compensation to affected car owners, primarily in the United States.
The trial of Martin Winterkorn marks a critical juncture in the dieselgate scandal that tarnished Volkswagen’s reputation and led to significant financial repercussions. As Winterkorn faces the legal consequences of his alleged actions, the automotive industry awaits the outcome of the trial and the implications it may have on corporate governance and accountability.
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