Audi CEO Rupert Stadler Arrested in Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler arrested in connection with the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler

(Photo: YouTube)

The Chief Executive Officer of Audi (owned by the Volkswagen group), Rupert Stadler, has been arrested in Munich, Germany, due to his involvement in the Volkswagen emission scandal case.

He is so far the biggest personality to be arrested in the ‘Dieselgate scandal’ that broke out in 2015. The Audi chief has been arrested as the investigators saw him as a potential threat, who may try to suppress evidence in connection with the scandal.

The company, Munich prosecutors, and Stadler were not immediately available for comment.

We confirm that Mr Stadler was arrested this morning. The hearing to determine whether he will be remanded is ongoing.

Audi spokesperson

Only last week, the Volkswagen Group had agreed to pay a fine of 1.2 billion Euros (approx Rs 9,477 crore) imposed by German prosecutors.

The prosecutors' office had diversified its probe into Volkswagen’s cheating probe to include Stadler among the suspects accused of fraud and false advertising after his home was raided on Monday.

The Volkswagen Group has been at the receiving end of investigations and lawsuits since the whole scandal was disclosed in September 2015. The accusations were that the car maker had purposefully rigged engines on almost 11 million diesel cars to cheat emissions tests. Following this fiasco, the company accounted for more than 25 billion euros in fines and settlements.

The news of Stadler’s arrest comes amidst Volkswagen trying to introduce a new leadership structure, which includes Stadler, with a strong push for the group to shift toward electric vehicles.

(This is a developing story and will be updated with more information.)