Martin Winterkorn

Winterkorn was prosecuted in Germany in connection with Dieselgate, notably for fraud and charges related to market disclosures. His trial opened in September 2024. On 1 July 2025, the court provisionally suspended proceedings against him, finding him unfit to stand trial at that time; proceedings could resume if his health permits. As of 3 September 2026, no criminal verdict on the merits had been identified against him in these proceedings.

Attribution

Accused

The US Department of Justice made public an indictment of Winterkorn for conspiracy and wire fraud in 2018. Prosecutors allege, in particular, that he had been informed of problems involving manipulation software and had participated in continued deception of US authorities and customers.

Attribution

Accused

Following an independent investigation, the supervisory boards of Volkswagen and Audi concluded that Winterkorn had negligently breached his duty of care in handling the Dieselgate crisis. A damages settlement of 11,2 million euros was reached. In 2026, Volkswagen's general meeting again approved the settlement as a precaution following a formal question of company meeting law.

The US SEC sued Volkswagen, certain financial entities and Winterkorn in 2019, alleging that billions of dollars in bonds had been sold while emissions fraud rendered certain disclosures misleading. Following a consent judgment against a Volkswagen financial subsidiary in 2024, the SEC subsequently withdrew its remaining claims against the other defendants, including Winterkorn.

Attribution

Accused

In 2021, the European Commission sanctioned BMW, Daimler and the Volkswagen group over a technical cartel concerning the development of diesel emissions control systems from June 2009 to October 2014, during Winterkorn's leadership. The Volkswagen group acknowledged its involvement and was fined more than 500 million euros.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Ferdinand Piëch publicly distanced himself from Winterkorn and attempted to force his departure amid criticism of certain brands' performance and the US market. Part of the board, the state of Lower Saxony and employee representatives supported Winterkorn; Piëch ultimately resigned.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Following his resignation from Volkswagen in September 2015, the press reported pension capital of approximately 28,5 million euros, corresponding to an annual pension of roughly one million euros, along with possible contractual severance benefits. The amounts provoked strong controversy given Dieselgate's cost to the group.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Martin Winterkorn's 2011 remuneration, reported at approximately 17,4 million euros, made him Germany's highest-paid executive and fuelled a national debate over the scale of variable pay at Volkswagen. The supervisory board subsequently revised certain mechanisms, and Winterkorn himself acknowledged that increases could not continue indefinitely.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility