“Audi Head Confesses: Guilty of Selling Modified Cars Despite Knowing About Emissions Manipulation”

The head of Audi initially denied guilt, but his lawyers announced his confession today. According to the criminal court, he must have known since July 2016 at the latest that the exhaust gas values ​​could have been manipulated. Nevertheless, he ordered the sale of modified cars to continue until the beginning of 2018.

The public prosecutor’s office had previously agreed to a plea agreement proposed by the court. Stadler already announced his confession at the beginning of May, but asked for more time to prepare. Now he has fulfilled his announcement.

The former head of Audi confirmed the statement with the word “yes”, which was read by his defense attorney today in front of the Munich regional court. In it, the defendant admitted wrongdoing. He had the opportunity to intervene but did not and deeply regrets it, the statement said.

After the confession, the trial, which has been ongoing since September 2020, could end soon – probably in June, writes DPA. Audi’s former head of engine development, Wolfgang Hatz, who is also charged, and two of his senior engineers have already admitted to ordering the modification of the engine’s software.

Thanks to the inadmissible modifications, the cars met nitrogen oxide limits in testing, but not on the road. According to the court, Hatz and one engineer can also expect a suspended sentence. The proceedings against the other engineer have already been stopped in exchange for a fine.