Former VW CEO Winterkorn charged in Germany over diesel scandal | DW News

Summary

German prosecutors have charged former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn with serious fraud in connection with the diesel emissions scandal. Winterkorn is the first automotive executive to face charges in Germany for the scandal, which involved using software to make Volkswagen vehicles appear cleaner during testing than they were in real-world conditions. The company has already incurred billions in fines, with Winterkorn now facing potential imprisonment of six months to ten years and the withdrawal of bonuses if convicted. This marks a significant step towards accountability in the ongoing saga that has plagued the automotive industry.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has been charged with serious fraud by German prosecutors in relation to the diesel emissions scandal.
• 🔍 Winterkorn is the first automotive executive to face charges in Germany over the scandal, which involved the use of software to cheat on emissions tests.
• 📊 It is believed that Volkswagen sold around 10 million cars between 2007 and 2015 with the cheating software installed.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Winterkorn is accused of knowing about the cheating software as early as 2014, a year before the scandal broke, but not disclosing this information.
• 👥 He has been charged alongside four other individuals, although their identities are not disclosed in the script.
• 🇺🇸 Winterkorn also faces charges in the United States, where there is a particular focus on preventing him from running any organization with US operations.
• 💼 The scandal has already cost Volkswagen billions of euros in fines, including a recent €1 billion fine in Germany and around €20 billion in the US.
• 🚫 Germany typically does not extradite its citizens, making it unlikely that Winterkorn would have faced trial in the US.
• 🛑 With charges now filed in Germany, Winterkorn may have to face a trial in his home country.
• 📉 The ongoing scandal continues to negatively impact Volkswagen's reputation and financial situation.
• 🗓️ If convicted, Winterkorn faces a potential prison sentence of between six months and ten years, and may have to forfeit any bonuses earned during the period of the scandal.

Q & A

Who is Martin Winterkorn and what is he known for?

Martin Winterkorn is Volkswagen's former CEO who is now infamous for his involvement in the diesel emissions cheating scandal that affected the company and other car makers.

What are the charges against Martin Winterkorn?

Martin Winterkorn has been charged with serious fraud and breaking competition rules in relation to the diesel emissions scandal. He is the first automotive boss to face such charges in Germany.

What is the nature of the diesel emissions scandal?

The scandal involved the use of software by companies like Volkswagen to make their cars appear to emit fewer harmful chemicals during testing than they actually did on the road.

How many cars are believed to have been affected by the cheating software?

It is thought that Volkswagen sold approximately 10 million cars between 2007 and 2015 that had the cheating software installed.

When is Winterkorn believed to have known about the cheating software?

Prosecutors in Germany believe that Winterkorn knew about the cheating software as early as 2014, but he did not disclose this information until the scandal broke in 2015.

What are the legal implications for Winterkorn in the United States?

In the United States, Winterkorn is facing charges where authorities do not want him to be allowed to run another organization that operates in the US ever again. However, he is unlikely to face trial in the US due to Germany's policy against extraditing its citizens.

What has been the financial impact of the scandal on Volkswagen?

The scandal has cost Volkswagen billions of euros, with fines in Germany amounting to a billion euros and around 20 billion euros in fines in the US.

What is the potential sentence for Winterkorn if he is convicted of the charges in Germany?

If convicted, Winterkorn faces between six months and ten years in prison, and any bonuses he received as a result of the fraudulent sales during those years could be withdrawn.

What does the scandal signify for the automotive industry in terms of accountability?

The scandal and the charges against Winterkorn represent a significant moment of accountability in the automotive industry, highlighting the consequences for top executives involved in corporate malpractice.

How has Volkswagen been handling the aftermath of the scandal?

Volkswagen has been dealing with the scandal by paying billions in fines and trying to move past the issue. They are eager to draw a line under the scandal and break free from its ongoing negative impact.

What is the significance of Winterkorn being charged in Germany for the company?

Winterkorn being charged in Germany adds more negative press to Volkswagen and prolongs the scandal's impact on the company's reputation, despite their efforts to move on from the issue.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Volkswagen Emissions Scandal Charges

German prosecutors have charged former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn with serious fraud in relation to the diesel emissions scandal. Winterkorn is the first automotive executive to face charges in Germany over the scandal, which involved the use of software to deceive emissions tests, making Volkswagen cars appear cleaner than they actually were. It is believed that around 10 million Volkswagen cars were sold with this 'cheating' software installed between 2007 and 2015. Winterkorn is accused of knowing about the software as early as 2014 but not disclosing it until the scandal broke in 2015. In addition to the charges in Germany, he is also facing legal action in the United States, where authorities are seeking to prevent him from ever leading an organization with operations in the U.S. again. The scandal has already cost Volkswagen billions in fines and is ongoing, with Winterkorn potentially facing a prison sentence of six months to ten years if convicted.

Keywords

💡Martin Winterkorn

Martin Winterkorn is the former CEO of Volkswagen. He is central to the video's theme as he is the first automotive executive to be charged in Germany over the diesel emissions scandal. His name is synonymous with the controversy that has plagued Volkswagen, and he is accused of knowing about the emissions cheating as early as 2014 but not disclosing it until the scandal broke in 2015.

💡Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German multinational automotive corporation and the main subject of the video. The company is embroiled in a scandal involving the use of 'defeat devices' in their diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. The scandal has led to significant financial penalties for the company and ongoing legal issues, as highlighted in the script.

💡Diesel emissions cheating scandal

This term refers to a major controversy where Volkswagen and other car makers used software to deceive emissions tests, making their vehicles appear less polluting than they actually were. The scandal is the main theme of the video, detailing the legal repercussions for both the company and its former CEO.

💡Serious Fraud

Serious fraud is a legal term indicating a grave form of dishonesty, often involving financial gain through deception. In the context of the video, Martin Winterkorn is charged with serious fraud in relation to the emissions scandal, suggesting a high level of culpability and potential for severe legal consequences.

💡Competition Rules

Competition rules are regulations designed to ensure fair market practices and prevent anti-competitive behavior. Winterkorn is accused of breaking these rules, likely by giving Volkswagen an unfair advantage in the market through the use of deceptive practices related to emissions.

💡Prosecutors

Prosecutors are legal representatives who bring charges against individuals or entities accused of crimes. In this video, German prosecutors have charged Winterkorn and are investigating the actions of Volkswagen, indicating the official legal response to the emissions scandal.

💡Charges

Charges are formal accusations brought against a person suspected of a crime. The video discusses the charges against Winterkorn and the broader implications for Volkswagen, emphasizing the severity of the legal action being taken.

💡Legal Trouble

Legal trouble refers to difficulties or disputes that arise from legal issues. Winterkorn is said to be facing legal trouble not only in Germany but also in the United States, where he is being sued and could potentially face a ban from running organizations with operations in the US.

💡Extrading

Extradition is the process by which one country or jurisdiction sends a person accused or convicted of a crime to another country or jurisdiction that has requested their transfer for trial or punishment. The video notes that Winterkorn was unlikely to face trial in the US due to Germany's policy against extraditing its citizens.

💡Accountability

Accountability refers to the obligation to report on or be responsible for one's actions. The video discusses the first-time charge against a top executive like Winterkorn in Germany, highlighting the move towards holding individuals responsible for corporate wrongdoing.

💡Billions of Euros

The term refers to the massive financial penalties imposed on Volkswagen as a result of the emissions scandal. The video mentions fines in the billions of euros, illustrating the scale of the financial repercussions for the company.

Highlights

German prosecutors have charged Volkswagen's former CEO Martin Winterkorn with serious fraud.

Charges relate to his role in the diesel emissions cheating scandal involving Volkswagen and other car makers.

Winterkorn is the first automotive executive to be charged in Germany over the scandal.

He is charged alongside four other individuals whose identities are not disclosed.

Winterkorn is also accused of breaking competition rules.

The diesel emission scandal involved the use of software to deceive emissions tests.

Volkswagen allegedly sold about 10 million cars with cheating software installed between 2007 and 2015.

Winterkorn is accused of knowing about the cheating as early as 2014 but not disclosing it until the scandal broke in 2015.

He is also facing charges in the United States where the scandal has been a significant issue.

In the US, there is a push to prevent Winterkorn from ever running an organization with US operations.

Germany's policy of not extraditing its citizens means Winterkorn was unlikely to face trial in the US.

Now that he is charged in Germany, he may have to face a trial.

The scandal continues to negatively impact Volkswagen's reputation and finances.

Volkswagen has already been fined billions of euros due to the scandal.

If convicted, Winterkorn faces between six months to ten years in prison.

He may also have to forfeit any bonuses earned during the period the fraudulent sales were made.

This marks a significant step towards accountability for the emissions-cheating scandal.

Transcripts

German prosecutors have charged

Volkswagens former CEO Martin Winterkorn

with serious fraud

that's over his part in the diesel

emissions cheating scandal that engulfed

Volkswagen and other car makers

Winterkorn is the first auto company

boss to be charged over the scandal in

Germany and Rob watts is here in the

studio with us from DW business to break

all of this down for us so what exactly

is he accused of brother so and you

mentioned they're serious fraud well

actually the prosecutors of use of words

particularly serious fraud in relation

to this case he's charged alongside four

others we don't actually know who those

four others are but he's also accused of

not only the fraud but of breaking

competition rules as you mentioned the

first automotive boss to be charged in

Germany over the diesel emissions

scandal and that's what this is all

about let's just remind ourselves

exactly what that was so the diesel

emission scandal was the use of software

by the likes of VW to make their cars

appear to be emitting fewer harmful

chemicals during testing than they

actually did when they were out on the

road and what it's thought is that VW

sold something like 10 million cars

between 2007 and 2015 that had this

cheating software installed what mr.

vinta corn is accused of is knowing

about this sooner than he let on I mean

he resigned more or less immediately

after the scandal broke in 2015 but

prosecutors in Germany of today said

they think he knew about this as early

as 2014 but didn't let anyone know and

it's not the only legal trouble that

he's in is it no it's not so we

mentioned he's been charged in Germany

which is actually also facing charges in

America where this has been a very big

deal there he's being sued VW is also

being sued but there is particular focus

on Martin Winterkorn there they don't

want him to ever be allowed to run

another organization that has operations

in the US ever again

but he was unlikely to actually face

trial in the US because Germany has a

habit of not extraditing in fact has a

rule

not extraditing its citizens but now

he's been charged in Germany itself he

may well end up having that day in court

so walk us through now what happens next

not only for Winterkorn but also for VW

yes for VW this is yet more bad press

it's the scandal that won't go away

they're clearly very keen to draw a line

under it it's cost them billions of

euros just last year actually

prosecutors in Germany at find them a

billion euros over the scandal but in

the u.s. they've also had fines of

around 20 billion euros so they're

desperate to break free of this as you

might expect martin vinter Cornwell the

prosecutors have said today that he

faces between six months and ten years

behind bars if he is convicted of these

charges he also faces having any bonuses

that he made as a result if the sale was

made over those years being withdrawn

from him okay so a big day when it comes

to accountability for the

emissions-cheating scandal first time

that we've seen a top boss like this

charged with in germany rob watts

breaking it down for us thanks so much