The disgraced former CEO gave a statement on the second day of his trial in German courts, where he faces a possible prison sentence.
Former Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn on trial in unprecedented Volkswagen scandal «dieselgate»judged on Wednesday “inconceivable” the accusations against him in the engine-rigging fraud, explaining that his strategic responsibilities had kept him away from technical issues. “Criminal charges against me, as the prosecution (…) is trying to do, are inconceivable”said the former ousted CEO in conclusion of a statement read on the second day of his trial before the German courts, where he risks a prison sentence.
In September 2015, Volkswagen admitted to having rigged a total of 11 million cars to display levels of nitrogen oxide pollution that were much lower than the reality. Martin Winterkorn was forced to resign as a result. While he admits to having found himself “closely related” The 77-year-old former boss, who was involved in Dieselgate through his management role, says he has no involvement “was not involved in decisions regarding the development and use of (an) irregular software function on new VW diesel engines”.
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“Technical challenges”
He explained that his role focused on the “strategic decisions” regarding the direction of the group, its brands and products, with his colleagues in management. He clarified that it was not up to him to take care of the “technical challenges”. “I’m not a computer scientist and there’s nothing to do with software anyway.”said the boss, who is best known for inspecting engine details and other visible parts of vehicles with his pen torch during his visits to car show stands.
Internally, the technicians “assured me that they were working intensively on the problem of reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions”. However, he said he had not received any written report. “on a software function, even if critical from a legal point of view”. He also stated that he would never have accepted that customers be deceived when buying or selling a rigged vehicle, nor did he keep shareholders in the dark about the risks, as the prosecution will try to demonstrate. Parts of his long deposition were read by his lawyers. Weakened after several surgical operations, Martin Winterkorn has benefited from several postponements of his trial, which is being held nine years after the scandal was revealed and is scheduled to last a year.
