Currently reading: Audi hit by £700 million fine for diesel emissions scandal
VW Group brand 'accepts responsibility' for breaking emissions rules

Audi has been fined €800 million (around £700m) as part of a settlement with German prosecutors investigating breaches of diesel emissions rules. 

The Munich II public prosecutor had been investigating the Volkswagen Group brand over claims that certain versions of the firm’s V6 and V8 diesel engines breached requirements relating to "emissions service" and "power engine approval". Prosecutors also said Audi “failed to discover” that its vehicles sold with the VW Group’s EA288 and EA189 diesel engines featured an impermissible software function to cheat emissions tests – unearthed in the Dieselgate scandal.

In a statement, Audi said that it “accepted the fine and it will not lodge an appeal against it. By doing so, Audi AG admits its responsibility for the deviations from regulatory requirements.”

The €800m fine comprises the maximum €5m penalty for ‘negligent regulatory offences’ and €795m for ‘disgorgement of economic benefits’. A Volkswagen Group release noted the fine would impact its fincial targets for the 2018 financial year.

In June, Volkswagen agreed to an £880m fine from German prosecutors over the dieselgate scandal.

Former Audi boss Ruper Stadler, who is currently in prison awaiting trial in connection with the Dieselgate scandal, recently left the firm. While the Audi settlement ends the probe against the brand, cases remain against several over former VW Group executives, along with a number of lawsuits from car buyers in various countries.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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katiemolina44 17 August 2019

Audi is doing good because

Audi is doing good because their quality of competition is decreasing. For example, the only good BMW out is the 3-series, Volvo's cars are getting slower and their reputation of safety is holding up as they used to, Saab's cars are just getting uglier, Day Room Coupon and overall Mercedes has always done poorly in terms of performance. Audi, on the other hand, always stayed with their commitment to performance and style.

jennifergrace 22 October 2018

Audi always best

There's a great deal of pressure... yet, when you get in the auto, all that vacates the premises. A fantasy without aspiration resembles an auto without gas... you're not going anyplace. At the point when a client sits inside the auto, HRM Assignment Writing Service at that point they must have the inclination that it's an Audi - regardless of whether it's the leatherwork or the bodywork. Every one of these things must be regularly Audi.

Lapps 17 October 2018

Bound to happen

Basing the ethos of a Company on ‘image’ and BS alone was bound to end in trouble. You design components cheaply enough to be used in Seats and Skodas, but still have to be competitive with Mercs and BMs in engine output etc.

It was always going to happen.