Motors : Former Audi CEO on trial for German dieselgate scandal

The scandal of “dieselgateIn Germany, it rocked the auto industry in 2015 and now Audi ex-boss Rupert Stadler has become the first top executive to be tried for this.

What is the dieselgat problem?

In September 2015, it came to light that Volkswagen (VW) had illegally installed software to alter the results of technical pollutant emissions controls on 11 million cars with diesel engines, sold between 2009 and 2015. With this fraud, their engines had far exceeded the standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The vehicles involved emit up to 40 times the legal limit for nitrogen oxides under real conditions.

Rupert Stadler appeared in Munich court on Wednesday on charges including fraud, which he denies. Stadler is accused of knowingly selling cars that had tampered with engine software and failed to meet environmental standards.

However, not a single top executive has been convicted of the scandal in Germany. while two VW employees have received jail terms in the United States.

Among the defendants are the former manager of Audi and Porsche, Wolfgang Hatz, and two former engineers, who also deny the allegations of fraud.

The defendants face charges that span more than 434,000 VW, Audi and Porsche vehicles sold in Europe and the United States.

In October 2016, Volkswagen agreed with the United States authorities to pay $ 17.5 billion as compensation to the owners of the affected vehicles and the dealers.

The “dieselgate” scandal has already cost VW more than € 30 billion in fines, legal costs and compensation to car owners, mainly in the United States.

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