The Volkswagen emissions scandal, infamously known as “Dieselgate”, continues to cast a long shadow over the automotive industry. In a significant legal development, four former Volkswagen managers and engineers have now been convicted by a German court for their roles in manipulating emissions data on diesel vehicles. This marks a major milestone in the prolonged fallout from one of the industry’s most damaging controversies.
In 2015, United States regulators revealed that Volkswagen had installed illegal software in its diesel engines—known as “defeat devices”—which allowed vehicles to pass emissions tests while exceeding permissible pollution limits under real-world driving conditions. This deception affected millions of vehicles globally, including over 11 million diesel cars sold in Europe and North America.
By Mariordo Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11602665
The scandal led to recalls, plummeting stock value, executive resignations, and billions in fines. The ripple effect hit not only Volkswagen but also suppliers, regulators, and consumers worldwide, shaking trust in emissions compliance mechanisms.
The Regional Court in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony—just kilometres from VW’s global headquarters in Wolfsburg—delivered its judgement on 26 May 2025.
- Jens Hadler: Former head of diesel engine development, sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
- Hanno Jelden: Former head of drive technology, received a prison sentence of two years and seven months.
- Heinz-Jakob Neusser: Former VW board member, was given a suspended sentence of one year and three months.
- Thorsten D.: An emissions specialist, received a suspended sentence of one year and ten months.
These convictions are part of ongoing legal proceedings related to the emissions-cheating scheme that has cost Volkswagen over €32 billion.
While the convictions are a blow to Volkswagen’s image, they also form part of its effort to move past the scandal. The company had previously reached agreements with regulators and paid more than €30 billion in fines, compensation, and vehicle buybacks worldwide.
However, these criminal convictions re-emphasise the depth of the wrongdoing and indicate that further individual prosecutions remain likely. Former CEO Martin Winterkorn and other senior figures still face separate trials for their roles.
In the wake of “Dieselgate”, the European Union has implemented stricter emissions testing under real driving conditions (RDE) and introduced the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure). These reforms aim to ensure transparency and consistency across member states.
Additionally, the European Commission empowered regulators to issue recalls independently of manufacturers, removing the previous reliance on national authorities closely tied to domestic automakers.
The scandal also prompted the formation of environmental enforcement bodies and increased scrutiny on NOx emissions, which are linked to respiratory illnesses and thousands of premature deaths annually across Europe.
Volkswagen’s public relations strategy has focused on rebranding, electrification, and sustainability. However, until the final chapter of legal proceedings closes, the Dieselgate legacy will remain a cautionary tale for the industry.
These latest convictions underscore that while corporate scandals may take years to unravel, justice can and will catch up with those responsible. Volkswagen is attempting to turn the page, but Dieselgate remains a stark reminder of what happens when ethics are sacrificed in the pursuit of market dominance.
As the industry evolves toward a cleaner future, the importance of regulatory rigour, ethical leadership, and transparency has never been clearer.
