Volkswagen was recently slapped with a hefty fine amounting to one billion euros over diesel emissions from its cars. However, that does not seem like the end of it, because the firm could face additional fines in Munich and Stuttgart after being told to pay for management lapses that caused emissions cheating on approximately 11 million diesel-powered VW cars.
According to Automotive News, prosecutors in Munich are examining whether to impose fines on the company’s premium division, Audi, for its role in manipulating V6 and V8 diesel engines. Stuttgart prosecutors have also launched a probe against employees at Daimler, Porsche and suppler Robert Bosch, stating that they (the prosecutors) may also consider the use of an administrative order.
A spokesman for the Stuttgart prosecutor’s office said, “in all these proceedings it is possible that a regulatory offense procedure will be carried out, we are still evaluating this possibility.” Apparently, prosecutors in Brunswick have already issued an administrative order to fine Volkswagen for oversight problems which allowed millions of polluting VW cars to hit the road.
The one-billion-euro fine issued last week was one of the biggest ever penalties imposed by German authorities against a company. That doesn’t include the 25.8 billion euros that VW has set aside to cover costs related to its admission that it cheated U.S. diesel-emissions tests. According to analysts at Evercore ISI, the blow may affect VW’s earnings, but added that its shareholders should welcome the move since it marks an end to some of the criminal proceedings against them.
“On market manipulation, it is possible that there will be a decision this year. A decision does not necessarily mean bringing charges, it could mean closing the proceedings,” Brunswick prosecutor Klaus Ziehe said at a news conference. Volkswagen continues to deny any wrongdoing by its executives, which include chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch and CEO Herbert Diess, who are currently being investigated.
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Ini wayang pernah tengok je…. Bukan ke dah ditayang pada tahun 1998?
Ini cerita remake ke, reimagine ke, retayangan balik?
More fines for takata should be imposed too