Former Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler has been handed a suspended sentence of one year and nine months by a German court for fraud by negligence in the diesel emission manipulation scandal. The ruling comes after Stadler entered into a plea deal in May, admitting guilt and avoiding jail time in exchange for a monetary fine. Stadler’s co-defendants, former Audi board member Wolfgang Hatz and former Audi drivetrain development engineer Giovanni Pamio, have also received suspended sentences and fines for their involvement in the scandal.
What is the diesel emission manipulation scandal?
The diesel emission manipulation scandal, also known as “Dieselgate,” refers to the discovery that Volkswagen Group (which includes Audi) had installed software in diesel engines that allowed them to cheat emissions tests. The software would detect when a car was being tested and adjust the engine’s performance to meet emissions standards. However, in real-world driving conditions, the engines would emit up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
The scandal first came to light in 2015 when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of violation to Volkswagen Group. The company initially denied any wrongdoing but later admitted to installing the software in millions of vehicles worldwide. The scandal has resulted in billions of dollars in fines and settlements for Volkswagen Group and has led to increased scrutiny of emissions testing and regulations.
What was Stadler’s role in the scandal?
Stadler was the chairman of Audi from 2007 until 2018, during which time the company was developing and producing diesel engines with the illegal software. Prosecutors accused Stadler of knowing about the manipulation methods used and failing to stop the sale of the affected vehicles after the scandal became public knowledge.
Stadler’s plea deal involved admitting guilt and accepting a suspended sentence and fine in exchange for avoiding jail time. By entering into the plea deal, Stadler became the first former Volkswagen Group board member to admit knowledge of the diesel manipulation measures through the use of illegal software.
What were the sentences for Stadler’s co-defendants?
Stadler’s co-defendants, Wolfgang Hatz and Giovanni Pamio, were also charged with fraud by negligence in matters relating to the diesel emission manipulation scandal. Hatz, a former Audi board member responsible for drivetrain development, received a two-year suspended sentence and a fine of €400,000 (£344,000). Pamio, a former Audi drivetrain development engineer, received a suspended sentence of nine months and a €50,000 (£43,000) fine.
Both Hatz and Pamio entered into plea deals similar to that of Stadler, admitting guilt in the manipulation of diesel emissions in engines developed and produced by Audi.
What was the reaction to the sentencing?
The public prosecutor’s office in Munich reacted positively to the sentencing of Stadler, stating that the court acted within the parameters of the plea deal reached between Stadler and prosecutors involved in the case in May. The prosecutors had already consented to the suspended sentence and fines for Stadler and Pamio.
However, in Hatz’s case, the prosecutors say they will review the sentencing before a possible revision, having sought a prison sentence of three years and two months.
Conclusion
The sentencing of former Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler and his co-defendants in the diesel emission manipulation scandal highlights the ongoing fallout from the scandal. While Stadler avoided jail time through a plea deal, the fines and suspended sentences serve as a reminder of the seriousness of the charges. The scandal has also led to increased scrutiny of emissions testing and regulations, as well as calls for greater corporate accountability.