MUNICH (Reuters) – Former Audi chief executive Rupert Stadler pleaded guilty on Tuesday to negligent fraud in the probe into the brand’s involvement in the Audi diesel emissions scandal. Volkswagen, its parent company.
Rupert Stadler has been on trial since 2020 for his role in the “dieselgate” scandal after Volkswagen and Audi admitted in 2015 to developing engines equipped with emissions manipulation software to cheat tests. He previously denied those charges.
The former boss’ lawyer, Ulrike Thole-Grolle, reading a statement in court, said the defendant did not know that vehicles had been tampered with and buyers harmed, but acknowledged that he s It was a possibility and he accepted it.
“I understand that, for my part, I should have been more careful,” read Ulrike Thole-Grolle, reporting the words of Rupert Stadler.
The former Audi executive said he was ready in early May to plead guilty in exchange for a suspended prison sentence and a fine of 1.1 million euros.
(Report Joern Poltz, written by Madeline Chambers; Kate Entringer, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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