---
title: "Ex-VW CEO Martin Winterkorn Officially Charged by Prosecutors With Fraud Over Diesel Emissions"
description: "German officials slammed Winterkorn with the very first charges against an individual in connection to the dieselgate scandal."
date: "2019-04-15"
modified: "2019-04-15"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/27463/ex-vw-ceo-martin-winterkorn-officially-charged-by-prosecutors-with-fraud-over-diesel-emissions"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Volkswagen News"
tags:
  - "Volkswagen"
---

# Ex-VW CEO Martin Winterkorn Officially Charged by Prosecutors With Fraud Over Diesel Emissions

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German prosecutors have officially charged former [Volkswagen CEO](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20056/volkswagen-replaces-the-ceo-who-saved-the-company>) Martin Winterkorn with aggravated assault in connection to diesel emissions fraud. Winterkorn reigned over the VW empire at the time of the dieselgate scandal, and even though he stepped down from his executive role in 2015, the longtime executive and other four VW bosses were charged on a German court on Monday morning for repeatedly deceiving regulators.

Although a sentence hasn't been reached by officials, and it could be months before one is made public, Winterkorn could face up to 10 years in prison and be forced to repay tens of millions of euros that were originally awarded for sales bonuses, according to [*CNN*](<https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/15/business/winterkorn-volkswagen-diesel-fraud-charges/index.html>). In addition to fraud, [Winterkorn and company](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/26956/volkswagen-ceo-sorry-for-invoking-nazi-slogan-during-company-meeting>) were also charged with embezzlement and violating the country's competition laws, the latter by claiming that VW vehicles produced fewer emissions than the competitors', therefore giving them an advantage in the marketplace.

Out of the five individuals charged only Winterkorn's name was made public, with the reason for keeping the other four names secret not divulged to the media. According to [*The New York Times*](<https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/15/business/winterkorn-volkswagen-emissions-scandal.html>), all five individuals were tied to key moments in which the prosecutor’s office in Braunschweig believes the entire plot was conceived and kept out of the public eye. The investigative report shows that the scheme was born sometime in 2006, and escalated throughout the years as several domestic agencies unsuccessfully probed VW in their home country—proving that it wasn't until the United States [environmental authorities](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/24813/volkswagen-prepares-for-mass-production-of-23000-electric-vehicle-report>) inquired in 2015 that alarms started going off.

Many changes have been implemented at VW since then, but one thing is clear: this scandal has forever shaken the trust that Germans, and pretty much the world, has in Volkswagen and other automakers. With [electric vehicles being the next big thing at VW](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25299/volkswagen-says-its-last-internal-combustion-engine-will-debut-in-2026>), it will be interesting to see how dieselgate affects consumer behaviors when its time to make the switch to battery-powered vehicles.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)