Latest news with #Heinz-JakobNeusser
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.
Local Germany
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Local Germany
German court finds four ex-VW managers guilty over 'dieselgate'
The scandal has caused waves in the global car industry since September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted tampering with millions of diesel vehicles to dupe pollution tests. Former VW executive Heinz-Jakob Neusser received a suspended jail term of one year and three months from the court in the city of Braunschweig, according to news agency Bloomberg. The former head of drive electronics, named only as Hanno J., was given a sentence of two years and seven months, German media reported. The heaviest sentence of four years and six months was given to the former head of diesel motor development, Jens H., while the fourth defendant was given a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months. The defendants can appeal against the rulings. The separate trial of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn remains suspended because of his ill health. Auto sector analyst Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of the Center Automotive Research, judged that the case had for now ended "with scapegoats and, in some cases, suspended sentences". Volkswagen said in a statement that the "proceedings in the court in Braunschweig are against individuals" and that they had "no significant consequences for the cases before the civil courts that Volkswagen is involved in" related to the scandal. The four found guilty on Monday, who have been on trial since 2021, were initially set to have their cases heard alongside that of Winterkorn. But the court decided to split off proceedings against Winterkorn, who was unable to appear because of ill health. The former auto executive finally went on trial in September before the court again suspended proceedings in October, when he was not fit to take the stand. The highest-ranking former executive to have been convicted in the scandal so far is former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler. Advertisement He was was fined and given a suspended sentence in 2023 after admitting to fraud by negligence. In February, prosecutors in France called for Volkswagen to face charges of aggravated fraud there too. They said nearly one million French customers had to pay for servicing and repairs after the emissions breach was revealed.
Local Germany
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Local Germany
German prosecutors seek jail terms in VW 'dieselgate' trial
The defendants allegedly organised commercial fraud and tax evasion in the scandal which has rocked the global car industry since September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted tampering with millions of diesel vehicles to dupe pollution tests. The defendants include Heinz-Jakob Neusser, former technical director at Volkswagen, and three others only named by prosecutors as Jens H., Hanno J. and Thorsten D. The former managers at the German auto giant held a variety of posts in product development, including emissions management. Prosecutors requested jail sentences of three years for two of the accused and four years for another, a spokeswoman for the regional court in Brunswick said in a statement. A two-year suspended sentence was sought for the final defendant. The spokeswoman did not specify which defendant prosecutors had targeted with which sentence. The quartet, who have been on trial since 2021, were initially set to have their cases heard alongside former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. But the court decided to split off proceedings against Winterkorn, who was unable to appear because of ill health. Advertisement The former auto executive finally went on trial in September, before the court again suspended proceedings in October, while he was not fit to take the stand. The highest-ranking former executive to have been convicted in the scandal so far is ex-Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, who was fined and given a suspended sentence in 2023 after admitting to fraud by negligence. The dieselgate affair had already cost VW more than 30 billion euros ($34 billion) in fines, legal costs and compensation to car owners, mainly in the United States.
France 24
25-04-2025
- Business
- France 24
German prosecutors seek jail terms in VW 'dieselgate' trial
The defendants allegedly organised commercial fraud and tax evasion in the scandal which has rocked the global car industry since September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted tampering with millions of diesel vehicles to dupe pollution tests. The defendants include Heinz-Jakob Neusser, former technical director at Volkswagen, and three others only named by prosecutors as Jens H., Hanno J. and Thorsten D. The former managers at the German auto giant held a variety of posts in product development, including emissions management. Prosecutors requested jail sentences of three years for two of the accused and four years for another, a spokeswoman for the regional court in Brunswick said in a statement. A two-year suspended sentence was sought for the final defendant. The spokeswoman did not specify which defendant prosecutors had targeted with which sentence. The quartet, who have been on trial since 2021, were initially set to have their cases heard alongside former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. But the court decided to split off proceedings against Winterkorn, who was unable to appear because of ill health. The former auto executive finally went on trial in September, before the court again suspended proceedings in October, while he was not fit to take the stand. The highest-ranking former executive to have been convicted in the scandal so far is ex-Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, who was fined and given a suspended sentence in 2023 after admitting to fraud by negligence. The dieselgate affair had already cost VW more than 30 billion euros ($34 billion) in fines, legal costs and compensation to car owners, mainly in the United States.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
German prosecutors seek jail terms in VW 'dieselgate' trial
German prosecutors asked for jail sentences Friday in the trial of four former Volkswagen managers accused of fraud in the "dieselgate" emissions-cheating scandal. The defendants allegedly organised commercial fraud and tax evasion in the scandal which has rocked the global car industry since September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted tampering with millions of diesel vehicles to dupe pollution tests. The defendants include Heinz-Jakob Neusser, former technical director at Volkswagen, and three others only named by prosecutors as Jens H., Hanno J. and Thorsten D. The former managers at the German auto giant held a variety of posts in product development, including emissions management. Prosecutors requested jail sentences of three years for two of the accused and four years for another, a spokeswoman for the regional court in Brunswick said in a statement. A two-year suspended sentence was sought for the final defendant. The spokeswoman did not specify which defendant prosecutors had targeted with which sentence. The quartet, who have been on trial since 2021, were initially set to have their cases heard alongside former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. But the court decided to split off proceedings against Winterkorn, who was unable to appear because of ill health. The former auto executive finally went on trial in September, before the court again suspended proceedings in October, while he was not fit to take the stand. The highest-ranking former executive to have been convicted in the scandal so far is ex-Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, who was fined and given a suspended sentence in 2023 after admitting to fraud by negligence. The dieselgate affair had already cost VW more than 30 billion euros ($34 billion) in fines, legal costs and compensation to car owners, mainly in the United States. bur-sea/fz/rl
