The German automobile company Volkswagen is related to that Diesel scandal apparently a trial in France is imminent. As the AFP news agency learned from informed circles, the responsible investigating judges ordered a trial for fraud before the Paris criminal court. A first date for planning the procedure is scheduled for December 18th.
This is the first known case related to this Diesel scandalin which the French investigating judges order a trial. The public prosecutor’s office had also requested trials against Peugeot-Citroën, Renault and Fiat Chrysler. These companies are also accused of serious fraud in connection with increased emissions levels.
In September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that… Volkswagen in millions of diesel vehicles had installed an illegal shutdown device. The software recognized when a vehicle was tested on the test bench and only then reduced pollutant emissions. In normal road operation, however, nitrogen oxide emissions were many times higher than the permissible limits.
In France It concerns around a million diesel vehicles from the years between 2009 and 2016. Around eleven million vehicles were affected worldwide. The scandal has so far cost the company more than 30 billion euros in fines, compensation and recall costs, led to the resignation of then-CEO Martin Winterkorn and permanently shook trust in the entire automotive industry.
