Ex-Audi boss Stadler confesses diesel scandal role in court

Former Audi boss, Rupert Stadler has confessed at his fraud trial about his role in the diesel emissions scandal.

The Munich Regional Court had offered Stadler the prospect of a suspended sentence if he made comprehensive admission of guilt and paid a fine of 1.1 million euros (1.2 million dollars).

Stadler had said at the beginning of May that he would make the confession.

Cars with diesel engines had been manipulated by an automatic shut-off system in such a way that they complied with exhaust emission limits on the test bench, but not on the road.

Stadler was not accused of having instigated the manipulation of the cars.

However, he allowed the sale of these vehicles to continue until the beginning of 2018, even though he knew that the exhaust emission values could have been manipulated.

With a “yes’’ he confirmed a statement read out by his defence lawyer before the court on Tuesday.

In it, Stadler admitted wrongdoing.

The statement acknowledged he had the opportunity to intervene but failed to do so, and that he regretted his choices.