Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is set to stand trial on Tuesday, nine years after the "dieselgate" scandal shook the German auto giant and the global automotive industry. Winterkorn, who led VW from 2007 to 2015, faces charges including fraud and market manipulation for his alleged involvement in the company's use of defeat devices to rig emissions tests.
VW admitted in 2015 to installing software in millions of vehicles worldwide that made them appear less polluting during lab tests than they were on the road, triggering one of the biggest industrial scandals in Germany's post-war history. Winterkorn, now 77, resigned shortly after the scandal broke but had so far avoided trial due to health issues. However, a regional court in Braunschweig, near VW's Wolfsburg headquarters, has now scheduled 89 hearings through September 2025.
The charges against Winterkorn include conspiracy to commit fraud, as it is alleged that buyers of some VW vehicles were deceived about the cars' emissions levels. This alleged fraud involves around nine million vehicles sold across Europe and the United States, leading to financial losses for buyers amounting to hundreds of millions of euros.
Winterkorn is also accused of market manipulation for allegedly failing to promptly inform investors about the emissions-rigging software, violating German stock market regulations. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
The "dieselgate" scandal has already cost Volkswagen approximately 30 billion euros in fines, legal fees, and compensation, primarily in the United States. The trial of Winterkorn is expected to be a lengthy and closely watched legal battle, with significant implications for corporate accountability and the automotive industry.
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