Legal News

Audi CEO Arrested after Emissions Test Cheating Scandal
Download PDF
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

Photo courtesy of Car and Driver.

Summary: The head of Audi has been arrested in Germany. 

On Monday, the CEO of Audi was arrested because authorities believed he would tamper with an emissions investigation. Authorities stated that they were worried the company leader would contact witnesses in an attempt to sway their testimony.

  
What
Where


Volkswagen was embroiled in an emissions scandal starting in 2015 when it was discovered they had lied about the toxicity of the emissions of their diesel engines. On Monday, German authorities arrested the head of VW’s luxury arm, Audi, on obstruction of justice charges.

“As part of an investigation into diesel affairs and Audi engines, the Munich prosecutor’s office executed an arrest warrant against Mr. Professor Rupert Stadler on June 18, 2018,” the Munich prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

The arrest of Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has left the company without leadership as it faces a case from the German government. A spokesperson for Porsche SE, which controls VW and Audi, said that the company would discuss Stadler’s arrest at a company meeting on Monday.

Get JD Journal in Your Mail

Subscribe to our FREE daily news alerts and get the latest updates on the most happening events in the legal, business, and celebrity world. You also get your daily dose of humor and entertainment!!




In September of 2015, VW admitted that it had used illegal software to cheat US emissions tests. The US government filed charges against VW CEO Martin Winterkorn, but Business Insider stated, “He is unlikely to face US authorities because Germany does not extradite its nationals to countries outside the European Union.”

Winterkorn was charged with fraud and violating the Clean Air Act.



Stadler, 55, worked at Volkswagen since 1990 and became Audi CEO in 2010. According to CNN, he is “the highest-ranking Volkswagen executive to be arrested in connection to a costly diesel emissions scandal that burst into public view in 2015.” That year, the company disclosed that it had cheated on the diesel tests of almost 240,000 cars sold in the US and that it had rigged the tests of millions of engines of Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi vehicles.

Prosecutors said they are looking into 19 other current or former Audi employees and are considering criminal charges.

Volkswagen spokesperson Nicolai Laude said that Stadler’s arrest did not mean he was guilty.

“The principle of the presumption of innocence continues to apply to Mr. Stadler,” Laude said.

Stadler’s arrest resulted in VW shares falling by 3% in Germany. The emissions scandal cost VW over $30 billion in recalls, settlements, and legal fees.

Volkswagen is now led by Herbert Diess who has acknowledged the company has”lost a great deal of trust,” and it stated that it could take years to win public goodwill again.

What do you think of Audi and Volkswagen? Let us know in the comments below.



 

RELEVANT JOBS

Attorney (civil and family)

USA-CA-Riverside

Trial and Appellate law firm, with social justice philosophy, seeking licensed attorney for litigati...

Apply now

Environmental Attorney

India-Delhi-Delhi

They focus on environmental rights and laws and may work on projects relating to renewable energy, s...

Apply now

Associate Attorney

USA-TN-Liberty

Attorneys advise and represent clients during civil or criminal cases. They provide professional adv...

Apply now

Senior Manager, Corporate Secretary's Office

USA-NY-New York City

Job Title:  Senior Manager, Corporate Secretary\'s Office   A little bit about our t...

Apply now

BCG FEATURED JOB

Locations:

Keyword:



Search Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with ...

Apply Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-Carlsbad

Carlsbad office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with 4-...

Apply Now

Education Law and Public Entity Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law and public ent...

Apply Now

Most Popular

SEARCH IN ARCHIVE

To Top