Slipping Away From Prosecutors
The Volkswagen CEO who lorded over "Dieselgate" defers consequences with a happy accident
“There is no escape from justice, nothing can be unearned and unpaid for in the universe, neither in matter nor in spirit – and if the guilty do not pay, then the innocent have to pay it.” - Ayn Rand
Volkswagen’s disgraced former CEO Martin Winterkorn belongs in the Business Blunders Hall of Shame, yet he lacks one key criterion for the dubious honor: He hasn’t been convicted of a felony.
At 78 years of age, Winterkorn may never be convicted of a felony.
In the United States, this sneaky corporate autocrat who lorded over VW during its “Dieselgate,” is considered a fugitive from justice. In his native Germany, he is considered too frail to stand trial for the greatest fraud in automotive history.
While other top executives at the world’s third-largest automaker have gone to prison, this geriatric absconder remains well-positioned to complete what’s left of his emissions-test-cheating life without ever having to pay such a price.
Why? Because he slipped in the shower – just like those bath remodeling TV commercials warn seniors not to do.
Winterkorn has vehemently denied the charges against him. His German trial on fraud and market manipulation began in September, 2024, but a judge suspended the proceedings after Winterkorn reportedly went down in the shower and broke his right leg.
Meantime, U.S. prosecutors who charged Winterkorn with conspiracy and wire fraud in 2018 aren’t going after him. Apparently, German law makes it difficult to extradite its citizens and there are too many other alleged criminals to chase while Dirty Diesel Winterkorn defers justice beyond average life expectancy.
It’s been 10 years since the scandal broke and Winterkorn was forced to resign – and now, after one fateful shower, he’s getting away clean.
Leave it to German engineers to invent software that allows smog-belching diesel engines to cheat on emissions tests. Leave it to unscrupulous marketers to call it “clean diesel.” Leave it to an overambitious autocrat CEO to call it success.
The automaker has paid more than $33 billion in fines and compensation to vehicle owners after selling 590,000 polluting vehicles in the U.S. That staggering figure includes a $2.8 billion criminal penalty after Volkswagen, itself, pleaded guilty to three felonies.
Yes, the company is a convicted felon but not the CEO who ran it.
In Germany, four former VW managers were convicted in May, with two going to prison and two receiving suspended prison sentences. In the U.S., two former engineers, received lengthy prison sentences in 2017. Another 31 suspects still face proceedings in Germany.
But for Winterkorn, it’s ciao, auf wiedersehen, and fahrvergnügen, baby.
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