Winterkorn trial temporarily stopped: Difficult times for VW!

Winterkorn trial temporarily stopped: Difficult times for VW!

In the case involving the former CEO of Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, there are new developments that are making headlines. How freipresse.de reported, the proceedings against him were temporarily discontinued. The reason for this is his poor health, which, according to the Braunschweig Regional Court, means he is unfit to stand trial. It remains to be seen whether the process will ever come to a conclusion.

Winterkorn, who was head of VW during the high-profile diesel scandal that was uncovered in September 2015, is facing serious allegations. These range from commercial fraud to market manipulation and unsworn false statements. A real hammer is brought to the table: The manipulative emissions tests, which led to the deception of the US EPA, cost Volkswagen an estimated 33 billion euros and triggered a veritable litigation marathon tagesschau.de determines.

Are we at the end?

Martin Winterkorn's resignation came shortly after the scandal became known. Although the trial was originally scheduled to begin in September 2021, it was repeatedly postponed due to his health problems. The latest attempt didn't start until 2024. But even then, fate wasn't on his side; An accident at home interrupted the negotiations after a few days, further complicating the situation.

Another section of this story, closed in May 2025, revealed previous months: four former Volkswagen executives were found guilty. Two of them received prison sentences of several years, while others got off with suspended sentences. Winterkorn sees his career significantly damaged by the diesel affair and vehemently rejected the allegations attributed to him in his first statement as a defendant.

An uncertain look into the future

While the Chamber of Commerce will continue to examine whether Winterkorn remains capable of negotiating again, the question is raised as to how the situation could develop further. If his health improves, the procedure could continue. But ultimately no one knows what comes next. Until then, the case against the former most powerful man at VW will remain in limbo, while the automotive industry and the public are watching with fascination what the next steps will be.

It appears that the diesel scandal has not only taken a heavy toll on VW's finances; The legal aftermath is also still noticeable. The theme remains on everyone's lips and shows how quickly things can get beaten in business.