VW diesel scandal: Ex-manager sentenced to prison terms-process ends!

VW diesel scandal: Ex-manager sentenced to prison terms-process ends!

On May 26, 2025, the Braunschweig district court decided in an important procedure for the diesel affair against four former Volkswagen executives. The accused were guilty of fraud, and the judgment followed an almost four -year trial. The judgment is rounded off by the imposition of several years in prison for two of the accused, while two other ex-employees came away with probation punishment. Despite the convictions, the judgment does not remain final, which means that the legal processing of the scandal is far from complete. The public prosecutor had asked for prison terms between two and four years, only considered a suspended sentence to be appropriate in one case and will continue to consider the result critically.

The accused see themselves as a peasant victim and vehemently defend themselves against the allegations. Within the procedure there were numerous mutual accusations and a constant confrontation between the defendants' statements. Engineers had previously expressed concerns about the manipulations that were made public in September 2015. A central point of the scandal was the development and use of manipulation software, which influenced the nitrogen emissions of diesel engines and thus had a massive effect on the environment and reduced the value of affected vehicles.

The background of the diesel scandal

The diesel scandal around Volkswagen, which became known in 2015, according to the company, cost around 33 billion euros. As part of the procedure, the procedure against the former CEO Martin Winterkorn was also separated for health reasons. Winterkorn said both as a witness and as a accused and rejected responsibility for the events. The procedure against him was interrupted by an accident, and it remains unclear when it will continue. In Braunschweig, four further criminal proceedings are also pending against a total of 31 other accused, which underlines the extensive and complex nature of the entire scandal.

The exhaust gas scandal not only has legal but also practical consequences for numerous vehicle owners. Affected models, in particular those with the EA 189 diesel engines, are affected in their approval and the resale value. Buyers can assert warranty claims that relate to repair or exchange the vehicles. However, there is also the risk of diesel driving bans in city centers, and the registration authorities can shut down vehicles, which can lead to further financial problems for the owners. Even according to software updates, the rights of the buyers, depending on the defect removal of the vehicle.

further effects and customer rights

It is important that buyers of vehicles that may be affected pay attention to recalls and, if necessary, consider legal steps. The Federal Consumer Center has submitted a model declaratory action against Volkswagen. In addition, experts report that when selling exhaust gas -manipulated vehicles, the sellers have to point out the buyers to the increased nitrogen oxide values. This raises questions about transparency and customer rights in the automotive sector, which will also play a central role in future negotiations.

The dimensions of the scandal and the fact that he also affects other brands of the VW group such as Audi, Seat and Skoda show that legal and financial consequences will pass on. Buyers should be aware of their rights, in particular with regard to the guarantee and possible retrofitting that can inevitable to avoid further legal problems.