It has been nine years since the “dieselgate” scandal first rocked the automotive industry. Tomorrow, former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is set to go on trial for his involvement in the scandal. This scandal first came to light in 2015 when VW admitted to installing software to manipulate emissions levels in millions of vehicles worldwide, plunging the German auto giant into one of the biggest post-war industrial scandals in Germany.
Winterkorn is facing serious charges, including fraud over the use of defeat devices that made cars appear less polluting in lab tests than they were on the road. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. The alleged fraud relates to approximately nine million vehicles sold in Europe and the United States, with buyers facing financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of euros. Winterkorn has also been accused of giving false testimony to a German parliamentary committee in 2017 regarding his knowledge of the defeat devices.
Winterkorn’s trial was initially scheduled to take place in 2021 alongside four other VW executives, but due to his poor health, the proceedings were split off and postponed. There have been renewed concerns about his health since, with reports indicating that he had to undergo an operation in mid-June. Questions have arisen about whether he will be able to endure the lengthy trial process, which might last until September 2025 with 89 scheduled hearings.
In addition to the fraud charges, Winterkorn also faces allegations of market manipulation. He is accused of failing to inform the capital market promptly about the emissions-rigging software, violating German stock market regulations. This charge further complicates Winterkorn’s legal situation and adds to the complexity of the trial.
In 2021, Winterkorn reached a settlement with Volkswagen, agreeing to pay the company 11 million euros ($12 million) in relation to the controversy. It remains to be seen how this settlement will affect the ongoing trial and whether it will have any impact on Winterkorn’s legal proceedings.
The trial of former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn for his role in the “dieselgate” scandal marks a significant moment in the aftermath of one of the largest industrial scandals in Germany. As the legal proceedings unfold, Winterkorn will have to defend himself against serious charges of fraud, market manipulation, and false testimony. The outcome of this trial will not only impact Winterkorn’s future but also have far-reaching implications for Volkswagen and the automotive industry as a whole.
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