Martin Winterkorn, the former CEO of Volkswagen Group, is facing trial on Tuesday over allegations of fraud and market manipulation related to the “dieselgate” scandal.
The case, which has been in the making for years, stems from Volkswagen’s use of software that allowed millions of vehicles to cheat on emissions tests, which led to the release of high levels of harmful pollutants into the environment.
Winterkorn faces several charges as trial begins on Tuesday. The charges include defrauding customers by selling vehicles equipped with the illegal software, manipulating the stock market by failing to disclose crucial information to investors and providing false statements during a 2017 parliamentary inquiry. If convicted, Winterkorn could face up to 10 years in prison.
The trial is expected to be a lengthy one. Court sessions are scheduled through September 2025, and the fraud indictment alone is 692 pages and includedcharges against the other four defendants. The entire case file comprises 300 volumes and 75,000 pages of supporting documents.
Prosecutors argue that Winterkorn was aware of illegal software well before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uncovered alleged deception in September 2015. Following the public revelation, Winterkorn resigned from his position days later. However, he maintains that he only became aware of the issue shortly before the EPA’s announcement, and during previous civil proceedings, he testified that the accusations against him were “not correct.”
Newsweek reached out to Volkswagen Group via email on Tuesday for comment.
Former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn stands in a hall of the Braunschweig Regional Court in Brunswick, Germany, on September 3, 2024. Winterkorn is trial on over allegations of fraud and market manipulation related to the “dieselgate” scandal.
Moritz Frankenberg/dpa/AP
Ahead of trial proceedings in Braunschweig on Tuesday, Winterkorn’s attorney, Felix Doerr, said that his client “definitively rejects the accusations brought against him.”
Doerr also argued that holding Winterkorn accountable for all aspects of the scandal simply because of his role as CEO is unjustified.
Winterkorn, now 77, was originally set to stand trial in 2021 alongside four other Volkswagen executives, but his case was delayed due to health issues.
Meanwhile, prosecutors continue to claim that Winterkorn was aware of the emissions issue as early as May 2014 but continued to allow the practice, leading to the sale of rigged vehicles.
The software in question was reportedly used in Volkswagen cars in both Europe and the U.S. starting in 2006. This software enabled vehicles to perform better on emissions tests by turning up emissions controls during testing and then lowering them during regular driving, resulting in the cars emitting more nitrogen oxide than allowed. Nitrogen oxide is known to irritate airways and can contribute to asthma development.
The repercussions of the diesel scandal have been significant. The company has paid over 31 billion euros (approximately $34 billion) in fines and settlements. Additionally, the market share of diesel-powered vehicles, once preferred for their fuel efficiency, has dramatically declined across Europe.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
