Former Volkswagen Chief Executive Faces Trial in Emissions Case

Almost nine years after Volkswagen admitted that it had rigged millions of cars to cheat on emissions tests, the company’s former chief executive went on trial Tuesday on charges stemming from the fraud, a vast corporate conspiracy that changed the auto industry. Martin Winterkorn, 77, who led Volkswagen from 2007 until he resigned under pressure… Continue reading Former Volkswagen Chief Executive Faces Trial in Emissions Case

Volkswagen Considers Closing Plants in Germany

Volkswagen warned on Monday that it would consider closing factories in Germany for the first time in its 87-year history and end a decades-old guarantee of job security for workers, as it faces profitability problems amid increasing pressure from Asian competitors. The company said in a statement that the measures were meant to shore up… Continue reading Volkswagen Considers Closing Plants in Germany

A Mercedes-Benz Fire Jolts South Korea’s E.V. Transition

The flames and smoke from a burning Mercedes-Benz electric sedan spread rapidly through the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in South Korea this month. The fire damaged almost 900 cars, and 23 people suffered smoke inhalation. It took firefighters more than eight hours to put out the blaze, which reached temperatures above 1,500… Continue reading A Mercedes-Benz Fire Jolts South Korea’s E.V. Transition

Tesla Chargers Are Still Closed to Most Electric Cars

Scarce and finicky public chargers are among the biggest reasons people hesitate to buy electric cars. So when Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, agreed last year to open the company’s well-regarded Supercharger network to vehicles from other carmakers, many drivers and industry experts celebrated the decision. But more than 12 months later, Tesla’s… Continue reading Tesla Chargers Are Still Closed to Most Electric Cars