VW-Abgasaffäre: Prozess zum VW-Dieselskandal verzögert - kein Ende absehbar

More than eleven years after the Dieselgate scandal was uncovered, the legal investigation into Volkswagen's emissions-cheating scandal has stalled. One of the three defendants, who missed the planned start of the fourth major fraud trial at the Braunschweig district court, was absent due to health reasons, according to their defense.

The presiding judge announced that the affected party did not sufficiently justify their absence in the court's view. The proceedings were suspended on Monday and continued until Thursday, November 5th. The trial involves three former executives of the group, who are accused, among other things, of having co-developed the illegal idle shutdown system or failing to act against its further development.

One of the defendants is also accused of having given an untruthful sworn statement. Diesel cars with manipulated software The VW scandal came to light in September 2015 when US authorities proved that diesel vehicles had been manipulated with software. This software detected test conditions and reduced nitrogen oxide emissions, but in everyday operation, they were significantly higher.

The scandal cost the former VW boss Martin Winterkorn his position and billions for the automaker. The scandal affected several million vehicles worldwide. In May 2025, after several years of negotiations, the first fraud trial in Braunschweig came to an end with a verdict. Two of the four defendants received prison sentences, the other two served probation.

However, the convicted parties consider themselves victims and have initiated a review. A decision on their case is not foreseeable until the possible imprisonment, and thus the proceedings could take some time. Prosecution of former VW boss Winterkorn suspended The first trial initially included former VW boss Martin Winterkorn, but his proceedings were separated due to health reasons and are now suspended due to inability to continue.

Winterkorn had denied any criminal liability in court. The current fourth trial initially targeted eleven accused individuals. Eight of them had their case against monetary penalties suspended according to the prosecution. The trial is scheduled for 150 days of hearings until the end of 2028. The fifth - and probably last - trial in Braunschweig is to begin this month (November 24th).

Seven former executives and employees of the group face the accusations. The same trial is scheduled for 150 days of hearings until the end of 2028.