Former Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn appeared in court on Tuesday to face charges of fraud and market manipulation in connection with the emissions scandal that rocked the auto industry. Prosecutors allege that Winterkorn was aware of the illegal software used in Volkswagen cars to cheat on emissions tests well before it was publicly revealed in 2015.
Winterkorn has denied the allegations, claiming that he only learned about the practice shortly before it was exposed. His attorney emphasized that Winterkorn's position as CEO should not automatically make him responsible for the scandal.
The diesel scandal had significant repercussions for Volkswagen, resulting in billions of euros in fines and legal settlements. Sales of diesel cars also plummeted in Europe following the scandal.
Winterkorn faces multiple charges, including defrauding customers by selling cars with illegal software, market manipulation for withholding information from investors, and making false statements to a parliamentary commission. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors claim that Winterkorn was aware of the emissions cheating as early as 2014 but allowed it to continue. The software in question manipulated emissions controls during testing, allowing cars to emit higher levels of harmful pollutants during normal driving.
The trial is a significant moment in the ongoing fallout from the Volkswagen emissions scandal, which exposed widespread misconduct in the auto industry and led to a major shift away from diesel vehicles in Europe.
