Volkswagen AG executive pleads guilty in connection with diesel emissions scandal

The Volkswagen AG executive faces up to seven years in prison and a fine of between $40,000 and $400,000.

|Aug 04, 2017, 22:57:48 IST

Volkswagen AG executive Oliver Schmidt pleaded guilty on Friday in US District Court in Detroit in connection with a massive diesel emissions scandal that has cost the German automaker as much as $25 billion.[caption id="attachment_2573126" align="alignleft" width="380"]

Representational image. Reuters[/caption]Under a plea agreement, Schmidt faces up to seven years in prison and a fine of between $40,000 and $400,000 after admitting to conspiring to mislead US regulators and violating clean air laws. He will be sentenced on 6 December.

In March, Volkswagen pleaded guilty to three felony counts under a plea agreement to resolve US charges it installed secret software in vehicles to evade emissions tests.

US prosecutors have charged eight current and former Volkswagen executives.

Earlier this year, Schmidt was charged with 11 felony counts and federal prosecutors said he could have faced a maximum of up to 169 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop most of the counts.

Volkswagen said on Friday it "continues to cooperate with investigations by the Department of Justice into the conduct of individuals. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations or to discuss personnel matters."

As part of the agreement, Volkswagen has agreed to spend as much as $25 billion in the United States to resolve claims from owners and regulators over polluting diesel vehicles and offered to buy back about 500,000 vehicles.

Akshay Kumar on the dowry system: The malpractice continues to plague India even today

Speaking about it, while promoting Raksha Bandhan, the actor added, "We cannot disagree with the fact that dowry is very much there in India. It's in the layers."

Smart features in cars that seem gimmicky but are actually impressive & should come as standard in all cars

Cars such as the Kia Sonet come with tons of feature. Now, some people may find these features a little gimmicky, but once they’ve experienced them for a prolonged period, they too will feel that these features should come as standard in all cars.

Coronavirus Outbreak: Toll in India rises to 77, number of cases at 3,374; most deaths in Maharashtra, Gujarat

According to the ministry, Maharashtra has reported the most coronavirus deaths at 24, followed by Gujarat 10, Telengana seven, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi six each and Punjab five.

Air India divestment: Govt likely to sell full stake in national carrier; lukewarm response to airline's realty assets sale bid

The government may not hold any residual stake in Air India keeping in view the last year's unsuccessful privatisation bid.

All you need to know about Phase 5 of General Elections 2019

Here is what we know so far about the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

Up Next