Former Audi chief on trial

THE former head of Volkswagen’s Audi luxury car division and three others have gone on trial on charges related to the company’s cheating on diesel car emissions tests.

The proceedings represent the first criminal trial in Germany over the scandal that erupted five years ago and has cost the Volkswagen Group more than € 32 billion (£ 27bn) in fines and settlements.

Rupert Stadler and the three co- defendants are charged with fraud, false certification and criminal false advertising before a court in Munich in a trial that is scheduled to last until December 2022.