Volkswagen has been ordered by a Paris court to stand criminal trial in France over its role in the diesel-emissions scandal widely known as Dieselgate. Proceedings aren’t expected to begin before 2027, with scheduling discussions set for December of this year, according to reports.
What Volkswagen Is Accused Of
The German automaker faces allegations of deceit related to goods deemed to endanger human and animal health. French prosecutors are also pursuing legal action against Renault and two subsidiaries of Stellantis in connection with separate emissions-related claims, though those companies have rejected the accusations against them. The French case marks another major legal development stemming from the global diesel-emissions controversy that first came to light back in 2015.
How Dieselgate Started
The scandal began in September of that year when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that certain Volkswagen diesel vehicles were running software designed to detect emissions testing conditions. Investigators determined the software altered engine performance during lab tests to meet regulatory standards, while the same vehicles emitted significantly higher levels of nitrogen oxides under normal driving conditions. Real-world testing found the vehicles exceeded legal emissions limits by as much as 40 times, a violation of the Clean Air Act that triggered years of litigation still playing out a decade later.
A Decade of Fallout, Still Ongoing
The fallout from Dieselgate has already resulted in tens of billions of dollars in penalties, settlements, and related costs across the automotive industry. In Germany last year, four former Volkswagen executives were found guilty for their involvement in the matter. In the United Kingdom, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz Group, Ford Motor, and other manufacturers remain tied up in a mass class-action-style case over emissions claims, showing just how far the scandal’s legal reach still extends.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s EV Push Continues
Separately, and almost as a sign of how much the company has tried to move past its diesel history, Volkswagen recently announced it has reached production of five million electric drive units worldwide. That milestone came through operations in Győr, Kassel, Tianjin, and Zuffenhausen, with the Kassel facility increasing electric-drive output in 2025 by roughly 24 percent year over year.
The French criminal proceedings remain pending, with court scheduling expected to be addressed later this year.