VW Set to Plead Guilty in Dieselgate Case on Friday, New Case Unfolds Against Audi in Australia

Volkswagen’s day in a U.S. court has come as a new investigation into l’affaire Dieselgate is unfolding in Australia.

The beleaguered automaker is expected to be formally arraigned and plead guilty to three criminal counts in the Dieselgate case Friday morning at a hearing in Detroit federal court. Judge Sean Cox could also hand down a sentence at that time.

As part of the plea deal with U.S. prosecutors, announced back in January, the Wolfsburg-based company agreed to sweeping reforms, oversight by an independent monitor for three years, and new audit procedures.

Last month, the German automaker agreed to plead guilty and pay a $4.3 billion penalty for having installed software on its diesel-powered vehicles that would deceive U.S. regulators. The software activated pollution controls during emissions tests and left them off during actual driving.

The cars’ nitrogen oxide emissions were up to 40 times the legal limit.

Volkswagen also said it had lied to investigators and seven of its employees face criminal charges related to Dieselgate.

Earlier in the week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission commenced started proceedings in the Federal Court against Audi, and its owner, Volkswagen, saying Audi “engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct”” with respect to diesel emissions claims and that Volkswagen knew about it.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)