The continued fallout and effects from the Volkswagen emissions-testing scandal continue to run unabated on a worldwide basis. While not a bribery and corruption scandal, it still marks a major turning point for egregious international corporate behavior. For auto manufacturers, the scandal has led to a global dip in the sales of diesel cars, in favor of gasoline based or electric powered technologies. Perhaps this will eventually help the environment as manufacturers move toward electric powered cars. However for now, it means an increased in gasoline powered vehicles generally considered to be less environmentally friendly than diesel powered cars.
The fallout also continues from the legal perspective as several news outlets reported that former VW chief Martin Winterkorn has now come under individual scrutiny. The New York Times reported that “German prosecutors said…that former Volkswagen chief, Martin Winterkorn, is suspected of market manipulation for having waited too long to disclose that the company faced an inquiry.” This new line of inquiry is significant as it signals that German prosecutors have “begun focusing on the possible cover-up after Volkswagen learned that it was suspected of violating clean air rules.”
