A Dieselgate Verdict in Germany and Activities of the European Commission as Crucial Developments for Swedish Diesel Car Owners
In May 2025, a German court delivered judgment in the long-running Dieselgate emissions scandal. Four former Volkswagen managers were found guilty of aggravated and organized fraud for their roles in manipulating diesel engines to pass emissions tests. The verdict, issued by the Regional Court of Braunschweig, marks a significant legal milestone not just for Germany, but potentially also for car owners in Sweden and all over the world.
In the beginning of this week, the German court sentenced two former high-ranking Volkswagen engineers to prison for fraud. Jens Hadler, former head of diesel engine development, received 4.5 years while Hanno Jelden, former head of powertrain technology, was sentenced to 2 years and 7 months. Moreover, two other former managers were given suspended sentences. Originally, former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn was also expected to stand trial, but his case was separated and delayed due to health reasons. He is still facing charges, including fraud, market manipulation, and perjury. For further insight into the case and its implications, you can listen to an interview with Daniel Alling, Germany correspondent for Swedish Radio, and Carl Erik Stjernvall, sustainability manager for M Sverige, available on Sveriges Radio.
Although the convictions are not yet final, they could be important for Swedish owners of diesel vehicles. According to Swedish legal standards, the success rate in compensation proceedings increases if they are based on the existence of a criminal offence. Under Swedish law, criminal liability is often a key condition for pursuing compensation claims. Until now, the lack of definitive court rulings against specific individuals has made it harder to claim damages. Now that the German court has confirmed that Volkswagen's actions constitute serious fraud, the legal basis for Swedish plaintiffs could be strengthened.
But for affected owners, it isn’t just a matter of money. It’s also about whether their cars will even be legal to drive in the near future, because currently the European Commission is pushing through stricter inspection protocols across the EU. Older diesel vehicles may soon be unable to pass annual emissions tests. These new inspections will focus heavily on nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ultrafine particles, pollutants that are often emitted in large quantities by older diesel engines using defeat devices. For many Swedish owners of VW, Audi, and other affected brands, this could mean mandatory deregistration or a total loss in resale value.
The Swedish Transport Agency has not yet issued clear guidelines on how it will implement the upcoming EU regulations, so it remains to be seen how Sweden’s legal system and transportation authorities will respond.
That’s why the recent verdict from Germany is even more important. It gives Swedish car owners a growing opportunity to seek financial compensation. Now that criminal responsibility has been established in court for the time being, the legal door opens wider for Swedish consumers to seek redress. What once seemed like a distant corporate scandal is now perceptibly approachable. It remains to be seen whether the German judgement will become legally binding and thus leads to more legal certainty in Dieselgate cases.