Latest news with #BraunschweigRegionalCourt
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Ex-managers of Volkswagen found guilty in dieselgate scam
Four ex-Volkswagen AG managers were convicted by a German court for their role in the diesel-emission scandal that tarnished the carmaker's image and cost it billions of euros. After four years of trial, the Braunschweig Regional Court on Monday gave former executive Heinz-Jakob Neusser a suspended jail term of 1 year and three months for his role in the affair sparked by the discovery that vehicles were fitted with software to sidestep emission rules. Another manager, who can only be identified as Jens H., must serve 4 1/2 years for manipulating more than 2 million vehicles. Former manager Hanno J. was given a term of 2 years and 7 months and Thorsten D. got a suspended sentence of 1 year and 10 months. All four had denied the allegations. Nearly a decade after the 'dieselgate' scandal broke, the tribunal has handed down its first verdicts in the criminal probe targeting senior staff at VW's core brand. They were charged in 2019 with having vehicles equipped with emission-software manipulation in a case that concerned 9 million cars sold in Europe and the US. During the trial, the court narrowed the case to fewer than 4 million vehicles.
DW
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- DW
4 ex-VW managers guilty of fraud over diesel test scandal – DW – 05/26/2025
Four former Volkswagen executives have been found guilty of fraud in a criminal trial relating to the "Dieselgate" scandal. The Braunschweig Regional Court in northern Germany on Monday convicted four former Volkswagen executives of fraud over the "Dieselgate" scandal. The verdict brings a massive trial to an end after almost four years. The scandal surrounding the manipulation of diesel car emissions tests came to light in September 2015. The Wolfsburg-based automaker had shortly before admitted to false test results in the US. Prison time for Volkswagen executives Two of the executives were sentenced to several years in prison, with two other former employees receiving suspended sentences. A former head of diesel engine development was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The former head of drive electronics received two years and seven months in prison. The highest-ranking defendant, a former member of the Volkswagen brand's development board, received one year and three months' probation. A former department head was sentenced to one year and ten months' probation. The global scandal, widely known as Dieselgate, plunged the Wolfsburg-based carmaker into a deep crisis. Volkswagen has faced countless lawsuits and estimated the total cost of the scandal at more than €30 billion ($34 billion). The public prosecutor's office had demanded between two and four years in prison and considered probation appropriate in only one case. The defense, however, pleaded for three acquittals and one warning. Proceedings against former CEO unclear Former chief executive Martin Winterkorn was originally due to stand trial alongside the four, but proceedings against him were suspended for health reasons before they began in September 2021. Winterkorn has since appeared in court as both a witness and a defendant, repeatedly denying any responsibility for the scandal. Ex-VW boss on trial over 'Dieselgate' scandal To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A recent accident and hospitalization further interrupted his case, and it remains unclear if or when the proceedings against the now 78-year-old will resume. Winterkorn, once Germany's highest-paid executive, resigned shortly after the scandal broke but has denied any personal responsibility. Prosecutors alleged in court that he knew about the illegal software as early as May 2014—well before the timeline he has acknowledged. Edited by Wesley Dockery
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Convicted Volkswagen managers to appeal sentences, defence confirms
The four former Volkswagen managers convicted for fraud related to the German carmaker's diesel emissions scandal are set to appeal the verdict. Defence lawyer Philipp Gehrmann on Monday said "the verdict is incorrect," hours after it was announced at the Braunschweig Regional Court. Gehrmann said his client's sentence of two years and seven months in prison overshot the mark. The massive case dates back to September 2015, when it was discovered in the United States that Volkswagen had installed software in its diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests. The so-called "defeat devices" meant that the cars complied with nitrogen oxide limits during test conditions, but not when actually driven out on the road.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Four former VW managers guilty of fraud over diesel emissions scandal
Four former managers at German auto giant Volkswagen were convicted of fraud on Monday over the diesel emissions scandal, nearly a decade after US authorities discovered manipulated software on millions of VW cars. The Braunschweig Regional Court sentenced two defendants to several years in prison, while the other two received suspended sentences. The massive case dates back to September 2015, when it was discovered in the United States that Volkswagen had installed software in its diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests. The scandal, known globally as Dieselgate, plunged the Wolfsburg-based carmaker into a deep crisis. It led to countless lawsuits and costs that the company has estimated at over €30 billion ($34 billion). The four defendants had been on trial at Braunschweig regional court since September 2021.
DW
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- DW
Four ex-VW managers guilty of fraud over diesel test scandal – DW – 05/26/2025
Four former Volkswagen executives have been found guilty of fraud in a criminal trial relating to the "Dieselgate" scandal. The Braunschweig Regional Court in northern Germany on Monday convicted four former Volkswagen executives on fraud charges over the "Dieselgate" scandal. Two of the executives were sentenced to several years in prison, with two other former employees receiving suspended sentences. The verdict brings a massive trial to an end after almost four years. The scandal surrounding the manipulation of diesel car emissions tests came to light in September 2015. The Wolfsburg-based automaker had shortly before admitted to false test results in the US. The global scandal, widely known as Dieselgate, plunged the Wolfsburg-based carmaker into a deep crisis. Volkswagen has faced countless lawsuits and estimated the total cost of the scandal at more than €30 billion ($34 billion). This breaking news story will be updated...
