The Volkswagen emissions scandal that rocked the automotive industry over a decade ago continues to be a thorn in the side of the German company. Millions of diesel vehicles with emissions-cheating technologies were implicated—including models like the Jetta and Passat sold in the U.S.—ultimately costing the Volkswagen Group billions of dollars in penalties. Now, the company has been ordered to face a criminal trial in France over Dieselgate, as the scandal came to be known. It adds another chapter to one of the most infamous events in the industry.
Hearings Expected to Begin in 2027
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Volkswagen will stand accused of deceit “concerning goods that endanger human and animal health,” according to a report from Agence France-Presse shared by Bloomberg. This was confirmed by an unidentified source close to the case.
Trial dates will only be discussed in the Paris court in December, so hearings aren’t expected to begin until next year. Bloomberg said representatives from VW didn’t immediately respond to requests to comment on the criminal trial.
The software in offending Volkswagen Group models produced nitrogen oxides that were as much as 40 times higher than the legal limit, according to the EPA, yet they still managed to pass lab tests. Later studies showed these diesels were significant contributors to air pollution levels. Both 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter diesel engines were implicated, affecting everything from compacts like the Golf to luxury models like the Audi A8.
Last year, 14 automakers—including Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Nissan—were accused of using similar emissions-cheating software to VW. According to lawyers, these brands’ vehicles were equipped with software that could detect when emissions testing was being done. This adjusted engine performance to keep emissions low in lab testing, even though the vehicles were far more polluting when operated on normal roads. In December 2025, Mercedes agreed to pay $120 million to settle claims over diesel emissions software.
Related: Mercedes-Benz Finally Settles Diesel Scandal with $120 Million Payout
Another Blow to Diesel’s Dirty Reputation
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Dieselgate significantly damaged the public’s perception of diesel as a cleaner fuel and ultimately contributed to a mass exodus of diesel powertrains in the United States and beyond. Today, only a few large pickups are still available with diesel power in the U.S., where their strong torque and longevity remain well-suited to towing and hauling applications. Brands like Stellantis are keeping diesel alive in Europe, but the fuel’s market share is still down to under 8% there, a fraction of what it was 10 to 15 years ago.
At this point, the damage has already been done, so the new criminal trial in Paris won’t mean much to the average consumer. For VW, though, it could result in even more Dieselgate-related costs, on top of the roughly $37 billion the company has already spent on payouts, recalls, and more.
