Former Volkswagen Chief Executive Faces Trial in Emissions Case

Almost nine years after a major emissions cheating scandal rocked the auto industry, the former CEO of Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn, has gone on trial in Germany. Winterkorn, who led Volkswagen from 2007 to 2015, is facing charges of fraud, market manipulation, and making false statements. Prosecutors allege that he failed to inform authorities and owners about software designed to illegally hide emissions levels. The trial is seen as a test for German authorities’ ability to hold top executives accountable for corporate wrongdoing. The scandal cost Volkswagen billions of dollars and contributed to poor air quality.