Stadler may not end up in prison after all

Former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler will probably not have to go to prison for his involvement in the diesel scandal. A deal with the Munich Regional Court allows Stadler to make a comprehensive confession shortly and, in return, only receive a suspended sentence and pay a fine of 1.1 million euros.

Stadler’s defence team has said that it would release a statement on May 16, after which the judge will decide whether it amounts to a complete confession and deliver a verdict in June. Previously, the judge had said the 60-year-old Stadler could face a prison sentence of 1.5-2 years, however, he would be open to suspending it, if Stadler agreed to make a confession.

Update 17 May 2023

Stadler has become the first former Volkswagen board member to admit responsibility for the company’s emissions fraud. This comes after Stadler maintained for years that he had been in the dark. Even though he now only admitted that “more care” would have been needed on his part, sources close to the matter say that Stadler will probably get off with a suspended sentence and a fine. The verdict is expected in June.

reuters.com, reuters.com (update)