Former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn went on trial Tuesday in Frankfurt, Germany, where he faces charges of fraud and market manipulation linked to the company's emissions scandal. Prosecutors allege Winterkorn was aware that illicit software enabled millions of cars to cheat emissions tests long before the US Environmental Protection Agency exposed the violation in September 2015. "Our client definitively rejects the accusations," said Winterkorn's attorney, Felix Doerr, emphasizing that Winterkorn shouldn't take the blame just because he has the CEO title.
Winterkorn, who resigned shortly after the 2015 revelation, initially had his trial scheduled for 2021 but it was postponed due to health issues. Volkswagen's scandal led to the automaker paying over 31 billion euros ($34 billion) in fines and settlements, and caused a significant decline in diesel car sales in Europe. Currently aged 77, Winterkorn faces potential imprisonment for up to 10 years if convicted of charges including deceiving car buyers, manipulating stock markets by withholding information, and providing false testimony in a 2017 parliamentary inquiry.
The software ramped up emissions controls during testing only, which allowed the vehicles to exceed nitrogen oxide limits during regular driving. Prosecutors allege Winterkorn was in the know by May 2014. Court proceedings are expected to continue until September 2025. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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