The US Department of Justice alleged that Volkswagen installed software in about 590,000 US diesel vehicles that detected emissions testing and reduced emissions controls during normal driving, misled US regulators and customers, and destroyed documents after the discrepancy was exposed.
As of 30 October 2026 Volkswagen AG's US conviction and German administrative fine stand as final, and no corporate appeal was identified.
Announcement of plea agreement and civil resolutions. Volkswagen agreed to plead guilty to three felony counts and pay a $2.8 billion criminal penalty, plus $1.45 billion to resolve EPA civil claims and customs fraud claims and $50 million in FIRREA civil penalties. Six executives and employees were indicted.
Sentencing of Volkswagen AG on guilty plea entered 10 March 2017. The court accepted the plea agreement and sentenced Volkswagen AG on conspiracy to defraud the United States, commit wire fraud and violate the Clean Air Act, obstruction of justice, and importation of merchandise by means of false statements. Sentence was a $2.8 billion criminal penalty, three years of probation and an independent compliance monitor, Larry D. Thompson.
Administrative order imposing a fine under sections 30 and 130 of the German Act on Regulatory Offences. A EUR 1 billion fine, made up of a EUR 5 million penalty and EUR 995 million disgorgement, for breach of monitoring duties in powertrain development. The order concerned about 10.7 million vehicles with EA 288 (Gen3, US and Canada) and EA 189 (worldwide) engines sold between mid 2007 and 2015 with an impermissible software function. Volkswagen accepted it and did not appeal.
Judgment in criminal trial of four former Volkswagen managers, case 6 KLs 411 Js 49032/15 (23/19). The court convicted four former managers of fraud. Two received prison terms of four years six months and two years seven months, and two received suspended sentences, according to beck-aktuell and AP. The judgment was reported as not final, with the defence announcing an appeal on points of law. This concerns individuals, not Volkswagen AG as a defendant.
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The US Department of Justice alleged that between 2008 and 2016 Danske Bank, through its Estonian branch, defrauded US banks about its anti-money laundering controls and ...
Last updated 30 October 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.