mit 's US District Court has indicted four high - ranking executives from German car manufacturer Audi for their roles in conspiracy to cheat US emissions tests . The German residents have been charged with conspiracy to defraud , commit tax fraud , and violate the Clean Air Act . Each charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison . The car manufacturer and its parent company Volkswagen have both admitted to selling diesel cars between 2010 - 2013 equipped with software that only deployed air pollution - reduction measures during emissions tests . In reality , the vehicles emitted 40 times the legal limit for nitrogen oxide .
Detroit's US District Court has indicted four high-ranking executives from German car manufacturer Audi for their roles in attempts to cheat US emissions standards. The German residents have been charged with conspiracy to defraud, commit wire fraud, and violate the Clean Air Act. Each charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.The car maker and its parent company Volkswagen have both admitted to selling diesel cars between 2008-2015 equipped with software that only deployed air pollution-reduction measures during emissions tests. In reality, the vehicles emitted 40 times the legal limit for nitrogen oxide.