The latest fine comes after VW faced a $1.2 billion penalty last year.
German prosecutors hit Porsche with a 535 million euro ($599 million) fine Tuesday for neglecting supervisory obligations linked to diesel emissions cheating, according to a recent company statement.
More specifically, the prosecutors said the company’s development department neglected its legal obligations. As a result, that oversight led to selling diesel cars in Europe that did not comply with emissions regulations. The company did not appeal the decision. The latest fine follows years of penalties, which have cost Volkswagen Group 30 billion euros to date. Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche all sold diesel cars containing defeat devices, violating clean air rules in Europe and the U.S.
Porsche said in its statement that it “has never developed and produced diesel engines.” However, its managers failed to properly oversee the use of Volkswagen Group engines in its vehicles. With this latest deal, the company concludes its procedure with German prosecutors.
“Concluding the proceedings is another important step towards ending the diesel topic,” Porsche’s statement said. The company announced its departure from the diesel market in 2018. Now, it “is fully focused on the development of cutting-edge gasoline engines, high-performance hybrid powertrains and electric mobility.”
Prosecutors going after engineers, executives
While Porsche itself acknowledged the fines, prosecutors are not stopping their. Recent reports suggest they are also pursuing individuals connected to the emissions cheating scandal. In April, German prosecutors charged ex-Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn for aggravated fraud.
According to their findings, prosecutors tied Winterkorn and four other Volkswagen managers to conceiving the diesel cheating scheme as far back as 2006. If convicted, Winterkorn could face up to 10 years in prison and replay millions in bonuses.
He is unlikely to try and leave Germany, as he is also under indictment in the U.S. for his connection to the Dieselgate scandal. Germany has policies in place against extraditing their own citizens.
