• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Exclusive

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

An hour in the Oval Office with President Trump.

Volkswagen

German Watchdog Wants Volkswagen’s Entire Former Board to Be Investigated

By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 21, 2016, 11:36 AM ET
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 10:  Hans Dieter Poetsch (L), Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, and  Volkswagen Group Chairman Matthias Mueller (R), arrive to the press conference to announce the latest update in the company's handling of the engine emissions scandal on December 10, 2015 in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is continuing to grapple with the consequences after it admitted installing software that cheats during emissions tests into 11 million of its diesel cars sold worldwide.  (Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 10: Hans Dieter Poetsch (L), Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, and Volkswagen Group Chairman Matthias Mueller (R), arrive to the press conference to announce the latest update in the company's handling of the engine emissions scandal on December 10, 2015 in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is continuing to grapple with the consequences after it admitted installing software that cheats during emissions tests into 11 million of its diesel cars sold worldwide. (Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images)Photograph by Carsten Koall—Getty Images

Germany’s financial watchdog has called on prosecutors to investigate Volkswagen’s entire former management board over the time it took to disclose the carmaker’s emissions test cheating, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The complaint filed by Bafin with prosecutors in Braunschweig is a blow for Volkswagen (VW) Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch and CEO Matthias Mueller, who were both members of the management board—as finance chief and head of the Porsche brand respectively—when the emissions scandal broke.

The prosecutors in Braunschweig, near VW’s Wolfsburg headquarters, said on Monday they were investigating former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and a second unidentified executive over whether they effectively manipulated markets by delaying the release of information about the firm’s emissions test cheating.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The person familiar with the matter said Bafin believed the entire former management board should be held collectively responsible for how the scandal was communicated to markets.

Klaus Ziehe, a spokesman for the Braunschweig prosecutor’s office, declined to provide details on Bafin’s complaint, but said the office’s investigations could be widened or narrowed.

“This is an ongoing procedure and the number of suspects is not cast in stone,” he said.

Bafin and VW declined to comment.

Bafin’s complaint comes just a day before VW holds its annual shareholder meeting, where the company was already bracing for a rough ride from investors who want to know who was responsible for the emissions test cheating.

Also on Tuesday, law firm Quinn Emanuel filed a lawsuit in Germany against VW on behalf of institutional funds over the plunge in its share price due to the scandal.

For more, read: Shareholders Take Action Against Volkswagen in Germany After ‘Dieselgate’

Europe’s biggest carmaker admitted in September to cheating U.S. diesel emissions tests, forcing out long-standing CEO Winterkorn, hammering its shares and tarnishing its reputation.

The company has so far set aside about $18 billion to cover the cost of vehicle refits and a settlement with U.S. authorities, but analysts think the bill could rise further as a result of lawsuits and regulatory penalties.

CLEAN BREAK

VW (VLKAY) and U.S. regulators were in talks for months about the carmaker’s emissions tests, but it was not until Sept. 18 that the cheating was announced to financial markets.

VW acknowledged in its annual report that it had not grasped the potential impact of the issue, saying the management board at the time thought the costs would be similar to previous cases involving other manufacturers, and so manageable.

The decision by U.S. authorities to issue a notice of violation of environmental law against VW on Sept. 18 came as a surprise to the company, the annual report said, adding the “facts and financial consequences then presented the situation in a completely different light.”

Evercore ISI analyst Arndt Ellinghorst, who has a “buy” rating on VW shares, said he thought it would be difficult to prove that management deliberately misinformed the market in order to manipulate the share price.

However, the more current managers are dragged into investigations, the more difficult it may be for VW to persuade investors and customers it has moved on from its troubles.

Some investors were critical of both Poetsch and Mueller’s appointments in the aftermath of the emissions revelations, saying the company should have picked outsiders to ensure a clean break with the past.

Sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters the second executive under investigation by Braunschweig prosecutors is Herbert Diess, the head of VW’s namesake brand.

In the light of the prosecutors’ investigation, VW’s supervisory board plans to reopen talks later on Tuesday about whether shareholders should be asked on Wednesday to endorse the management board’s actions for 2015 in a vote, another person with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

Such a vote is standard practice for German companies, and while it is only of symbolic importance, it would be an embarrassment for VW if it did not take place, was postponed or if shareholders refused to back the management board.

About the Author
By Reuters
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

How a mom-and-pop car wash chain went from sticky notes to AI-powered operations that are upleveling every part of the company
AIAutomation
How a mom-and-pop car wash chain went from sticky notes to AI-powered operations that are upleveling every part of the company
By Sage LazzaroMay 18, 2026
17 minutes ago
Outnumbered: At $4 billion ClickUp, a 3:1 agent-to-human ratio is rewiring work itself
AIAI agents
Outnumbered: At $4 billion ClickUp, a 3:1 agent-to-human ratio is rewiring work itself
By Sage LazzaroMay 18, 2026
17 minutes ago
After AI stole his clients, one Big Tech ghostwriter is using AI to get them back
AIAutomation
After AI stole his clients, one Big Tech ghostwriter is using AI to get them back
By Sage LazzaroMay 18, 2026
17 minutes ago
The smartphone’s days are numbered. Meet the device that could come next
AIsmartphones and mobile devices
The smartphone’s days are numbered. Meet the device that could come next
By Alyson ShontellMay 18, 2026
17 minutes ago
Solo founders are using AI to do the work of entire teams—but going it alone has limits
AIEntrepreneurs
Solo founders are using AI to do the work of entire teams—but going it alone has limits
By Beatrice NolanMay 18, 2026
17 minutes ago
How EarthRanger uses AI to help protect endangered species—and boost the wildlife tourism industry
AIAfrica
How EarthRanger uses AI to help protect endangered species—and boost the wildlife tourism industry
By Alexandra KirkmanMay 18, 2026
17 minutes ago

Most Popular

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
AI
Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
2 days ago
The top foreign holders of U.S. debt may soon dump Treasury bonds and bring their money back home, potentially spiking borrowing costs
Economy
The top foreign holders of U.S. debt may soon dump Treasury bonds and bring their money back home, potentially spiking borrowing costs
By Jason MaMay 17, 2026
15 hours ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
6 days ago
'No one was coming to save me': How Reese Witherspoon built a $900 million company from a problem Hollywood wouldn't fix
Success
'No one was coming to save me': How Reese Witherspoon built a $900 million company from a problem Hollywood wouldn't fix
By Sydney LakeMay 17, 2026
21 hours ago
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
Politics
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
1 day ago
SpaceX heads into a record-shattering IPO with the 'deepest moat that exists today' as investors vow to 'never bet against Elon'
Innovation
SpaceX heads into a record-shattering IPO with the 'deepest moat that exists today' as investors vow to 'never bet against Elon'
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.