Volkswagen says former executive paying $13M over role in emissions scandal

Volkswagen said Wednesday that its former CEO will pay more than $13 million for his role in the company’s 2015 emissions scandal. 

Volkswagen issued a statement saying that Martin Winterkorn has agreed to pay 11.2 million euros over the controversy, which involved the automaker cheating on emissions tests. Former head of Audi AG Rupert Stadler agreed to pay 4.1 million euros in fines, former Audi executive Stefan Knirsch paid 1 million euros and former Porsche executive Wolfgang Hertz paid 1.5 million euros. 

The Environmental Protection Agency caught the automaker using software that let its cars pass emission tests and then later turn off their pollution controls when driving.

An investigation found that that Winterkorn failed “to comprehensively and promptly clarify the circumstances behind the use of unlawful software functions in 2.0l TDI diesel engines sold in the North American market between 2009 and 2015.” 

Volkswagen said in its statement that Winterkorn also failed to answer “truthfully” when questioned about the matter by U.S. authorities.

Winterkorn resigned from position as CEO in September 2015, and the automaker had to pay more than 31 billion euros in fines, recall costs and compensation to owners, ABC News reported.