Rupert Stadler: In the fraudulent trial of manipulated exhaust gas values, the former Audi boss made a confession on Tuesday. © Matthias Schrader/dpa
In the fraud trial over the emissions scandal at Audi, CEO Rupert Stadler made a confession on Tuesday. Thus, the proceedings are likely to end for him with a suspended sentence.
Munich - Former Audi boss Rupert Stadler made a confession in the fraudulent trial of manipulated exhaust gas values in diesel cars on Tuesday and can thus hope for a suspended sentence. However, Stadler did not speak himself in the hearing before the Munich Regional Court, but had his defense attorney Ulrike Thole-Groll read out a statement. "I understand for myself that it would have required more care," said the lawyer on Stadler's behalf.
The fact that vehicles had been manipulated and that buyers had been harmed as a result, "I did not know, but I recognized it as possible and accepted it approvingly." When asked by Judge Stefan Weickert whether he made the words his own, Stadler said only: "Yes."
Trial of diesel scandal: Ex-Audi boss Stadler before suspended sentence
The judge had assured Stadler of a suspended sentence if he made a full confession and was willing to pay a fine of 1.1 million euros. Stadler and the public prosecutor's office had agreed to this deal a good two weeks ago. The verdict is expected in June. Stadler has been on trial since September 2020. According to the indictment, he is said to have failed to stop the sale of affected cars with Audi engines after the exhaust gas manipulations in the Volkswagen Group became known in 2015.
This makes Stadler the first member of the VW Group Board of Management to admit in court the accusation of fraud by omission in the diesel scandal. The Commercial Criminal Chamber had promised the 60-year-old a suspended sentence in the event of a comprehensive confession and payment of 1.1 million euros.
Trial of diesel scandal: Stadler gives in only after threat of punishment
Stadler had announced his confession at the beginning of May, but still agreed on preparation time. Now he made his announcement come true.
The ex-Audi boss and former VW board member had maintained his innocence for years and had not moved away from it in the two-and-a-half-year process. The turning point came at the end of March, when the court made it clear that Stadler would have faced prison without a confession. According to the preliminary assessment of the chamber expressed at the time, Stadler should have recognized by July 2016 at the latest that the exhaust gas values could have been manipulated. Instead of getting to the bottom of the matter and informing the trading partners, he let the sale of the cars continue until the beginning of 2018.
After the confession, the trial, which has been ongoing since September 2020, could soon come to an end - probably in June. The former head of Audi engine development, Wolfgang Hatz, who was also accused, and two of his senior engineers have already confessed that they had initiated the design of the engine software. With inadmissible defeat devices, the cars complied with the nitrogen oxide limits on the test bench, but not on the road. Hatz and an engineer can also expect probation, according to the court's promises. The case against the other engineer has already been dismissed in exchange for a fine.
Meanwhile, there is inglorious news from Sono Motors: The Munich-based company is insolvent. (dpa/rtr/utz)
