Al Jazeera

The criminal trial of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn began Tuesday, nine years after the automobile manufacturer was found to have violated emissions testing rules.

Guardian

New York Times

The 2015 scandal for which Winterkorn is now on trial, dubbed "Dieselgate," involved the company installing software in 9M diesel-powered vehicles to create false emissions readings. This violated both European and US regulations.

Dw.Com

Winterkorn was originally supposed to go on trial with four other executives in 2021, but his prosecution was delayed due to health issues. He's accused of lying to consumers about the quality of their cars, failing to tell investors about financial penalties, and lying to Germany's parliament in 2017.

Throughout the years-long legal battle, Volkswagen has paid roughly €30B ($33B) in fines, legal fees, and compensation to mostly US consumers. The highest-ranking former executive besides Winterkorn, Rupert Stadler, was given a fine and a suspended sentence.

Winterkorn faces a potential 10-year prison sentence, though German judges aren't known for handing down such long sentences for white-collar crimes.

Al Jazeera #2446

The criminal trial of former Volkswagen (VW) CEO Martin Winterkorn began Tuesday, nine years after he and his company were accused of violating emissions testing rules.

Guardian #

New York Times #

The 2015 scandal for which Winterkorn is now on trial, dubbed 'dieselgate,' involved the company installing software in 9M diesel-powered vehicles to create false emissions readings. This violated both European and US regulations.

Winterkorn was orginally supposed to go on trial with four other executives in 2021, but his prosecution was delayed due to health issues. He's accused of lying to consumers about the quality of their cars, failing to tell investors about financial penalties, and lying to Parliament in 2017.

Throughout the years-long legal battle, VW has paid roughly €30B ($33B) in fines, legal fees, and compensation to mostly US consumers. The highest-ranking former executive besides Winterkorn was given a fine and a suspended sentence.

Winterkorn faces a potential ten-year prison sentence, though German judges aren't known for handing down such long sentences for white-collar crimes

While it's nice that the Volkswagen executives responsible for Dieselgate have faced justice, it can't be forgotten that their crimes severely damaged the climate and public health. Despite the discovery of Volkswagen's fraudulent emissions tests, millions of those toxic vehicles remained on the road putting thousands of lives at risk of pollution-related death.

Guardian #7534

Dieselgate: Millions of ‘extremely’ polluting cars still on Europe’s roads, says report

It's quite ironic that this trial begins just as Volkswagen announces the possibility of factory closures. The green energy theology behind this trial is the same one that's led to China outcompeting European automanufactures. It's also the same one whose policies forced European companies to backtrack on their impossible electric vehicle promises.

Europeanconservative

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Ex-Volkswagen Head Charged in Connection With 'Dieselgate'

While it's important that the Volkswagen executives responsible for Dieselgate face justice, it can't be forgotten that their crimes severely damaged the climate and public health. Despite the discovery of Volkswagen's fraudulent emissions tests, millions of those toxic vehicles remained on the road, putting thousands of lives at risk of pollution-related death.

It's quite ironic that this trial begins just as Volkswagen announces the possibility of factory closures. The green energy theology behind this trial is the same one that's led to China outcompeting European auto manufacturers. It's also the same one whose policies forced European companies to backtrack on their impossible electric vehicle promises.

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Ex-Volkswagen Head Charged in Connection With 'Dieselgate'

Ex-Volkswagen Head Charged in Connection With 'Dieselgate'

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