Volkswagen Emissions Scandal has led to major legal consequences as a German court on Monday convicted four former Volkswagen managers for their roles in the diesel emissions fraud. Nearly a decade after the cheating software came to light, two of the convicted managers were sentenced to prison, while two others received suspended sentences.
The court in Braunschweig sentenced the former head of diesel development to four and a half years in prison, while the former head of drive train electronics was given a two-year and seven-month sentence. Two additional managers received suspended sentences of 15 months and 10 months, respectively.
The convictions stem from the company’s deliberate manipulation of emissions control systems in diesel vehicles, a scheme that began unraveling in September 2015 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of violation. Investigators found that Volkswagen had installed engine control software designed to cheat emissions tests, allowing vehicles to pass inspections while emitting significantly higher levels of pollution during regular driving.
Since the scandal broke, Volkswagen has paid over $33 billion in fines and compensation to vehicle owners, primarily in the United States and Europe. Several top executives have faced legal consequences. In the U.S., two VW managers received prison terms, and Rupert Stadler, former head of the company’s Audi division, was handed a suspended 21-month sentence and fined €1.1 million ($1.25 million). Stadler’s sentence remains under appeal.
Notably absent from the four-year-long German trial was former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. Proceedings against him have been suspended due to ongoing health issues. Winterkorn, who resigned shortly after the scandal came to light, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
German prosecutors have confirmed that investigations remain active against 31 additional suspects as legal fallout from the scandal continues to unfold.
The convictions mark a significant step in holding high-level executives accountable in one of the automotive industry’s largest corporate fraud cases.