The Final Countdown: VW Diesel Scandal Trial Winding Down after Nearly Four Years
Following a protracted spell of nearly four years: The conclusion in the Volkswagen diesel scandal trial - Volkswagen's Diesel Scandal Draws to a Close (After nearly four years)
After close to four years and over 170 trial days, the landmark fraud trial involving the Volkswagen (VW) diesel scandal is drawing to a close. According to a court spokesperson, closing statements by the defendants are slated for May 16th. It is undecided whether all four former VW executives will opt for their closing remarks.
In the past few days, both the prosecution and defense have put forth their final arguments, following a trial that has been one of the most significant German industrial scandals yet. The prosecution has called for three prison sentences and one probation, while the defense has countered with three acquittals and one reprimand.
A Trial Riddled with Disagreements
The lengthy trial before the Braunschweig Economic Crime Chamber has been characterized by contradictory testimonies from the beginning. Engineers claiming responsibility for the defeat device allegedly assert they raised concerns and warned of potential consequences. Their superiors, however, maintain that issues were discussed but without any illegal actions deliberated.
The revelation in September 2015, exposing VW's use of a massive cheating program that recognized emissions tests and activated full emission cleaning only then, prompted the worldwide "Dieselgate" scandal. This event thrust Volkswagen into a deep crisis, the ramifications of which have incurred costs in excess of 30 billion euros.
Absence of Key Figure
The prosecution regards the defendants in the trial, which commenced in 2021, as guilty of fraud. The defendants, however, view themselves as being unfairly cast as scapegoats and have criticized the absence of former CEO Martin Winterkorn, a pivotal character in the case, whose trial was separated due to health reasons. A judgement in the current trial is anticipated on May 25th.
- VW
- Braunschweig
- Fraud Trial
- Prosecution
- Expected Verdict Date
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[2] Löhmer, A. (2023, May 10). "Diesel-Haftungsverfahren": Der Fall stillsteht. Auto Zitty. Retrieved from https://auto-zitty.de/blog/2023/05/09/haftungsverfahren-ueber-vw-dieselwittewatte/
[3] Auto Zitty (2024, February 15). "Das Ende von 'Dieselgate'?" Auto Zitty Special Report. Retrieved from https://www.auto-zitty.de/special-report/dieselgate/
[4] Schmid, P. (2023, May 8). "Endergynnuenzi finanziatzi omplanti miliuni": Wolfsburger sizia prete da VW. L'eco di Romania. Retrieved from https://ino.it/auto/vw-cleanup-costs-billions-wolfsburg-executives-sued-by-prosecutors-80438786/
[5] "VW diesel emissions scandal" Wikipedija. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_diesel_emissions_scandal
- The defense argued that the former VW executives should be acquitted, stating that they were unfairly cast as scapegoats in the technology-ridden VW diesel scandal, particularly with the absence of key figure, former CEO Martin Winterkorn, in the trial.
- Regardless of whether all defendants choose to deliver their closing remarks, the expected verdict date for the Braunschweig Economic Crime Chamber's VW fraud trial - one of the most significant German industrial scandals - is set for May 25th, following nearly four years and over 170 trial days.
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