Ex-VW CEO’s Fraud Trial Starts Years After Emissions Scandal

Winterkorn appears in German court for diesel-scandal trial
Case had been delayed by the ex-manager’s health issues

Martin Winterkorn arrives at court in Braunschweig, Germany, on Sept. 3.Photographer: Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images

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By Karin Matussek

September 3, 2024 at 9:17 AM UTC

Updated on

September 3, 2024 at 12:08 PM UTC

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Nine years after the diesel emission scandal that rocked Volkswagen AG, the man running Europe‘s biggest carmaker at the time is finally standing trial accused of fraud.

Former Chief Executive Officer Martin Winterkorn appeared in a German court on Tuesday to defend himself against several criminal allegations in a trial that’s set to last 12 months. Along with four others, Winterkorn was charged in 2019 with fraud for having VW vehicles equipped with emissions-cheating technology.