Looks skeptical on VW: Stephan Weil, head of government of Volkswagen’s second largest shareholder, the state of Lower Saxony.
Picture: dpa
When Volkswagen had to pay a billion penalty, hoped in Wolfsburg, the processing of the diesel affair nearing an end. Shareholder Niedersachsen does not see that coming yet.
D he exhaust scandal will Volkswagen for words of Lower Saxony’s prime minister Stephan Weil still burden for years. “I would of course be relieved when this diesel gate crisis finally had an end,” said the VW board member of the “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung” from Saturday. “But I’m afraid that will take a few more years.”
After the beginning of the crisis in the fall of 2015, he had great concern for the car maker, the SPD politician continued. “In the meantime, I no longer have them because the VW Group has proven to be surprisingly stable,” he added. “The reason is simply good cars and many millions of customers.” The state of Lower Saxony is with 20 percent of the second largest shareholder of the Wolfsburg car manufacturer. Because of the millionfold exhaust manipulation, the prosecutor Brunswick has imposed a fine of one billion euros against the group.
Compensation against managers possible
Because claims compensation claims against former board members are possible. This is very seriously tested, he said in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “We are in the phase of the work-up, in particular by the state judiciary.” The American justice had in May a warrant against the former VW boss Martin Winterkorn The conspiracy to deceive the authorities in the exhaust gas manipulation is accused. He has always denied that.
Most recently, the member of the VW Group Executive Board and long-time boss of the daughter Audi, Rupert Stadler , in his house in Ingolstadt for suspected fraud and dimming danger surprisingly arrested. According to the company Stadler was then at his own request from his managerial posts temporarily suspended. He has always rejected the accusation that he had done something wrong in the scandal over manipulated exhaust emissions. Like the F.A.Z. Stadler remained in custody until further notice.