Four VW execs found guilty in trial that transformed Europe’s auto market

The scandal surrounding Volkswagen's emissions cheating has rewritten Europe's automotive landscape. Former executives received harsh prison sentences for their role in concealing the fraud, which exposed how companies could exploit testing methods to cheat regulators. Diesel vehicles, once marketed as environmentally friendly, now make up just 10% of new car sales, while electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids dominate, marking a crucial step toward Europe's shift to greener energy. This case not only punished the culpable but also accelerated the transition away from diesels to electric cars, with Volkswagen emerging as a leader in electric vehicle production.