39 Litigation
Volkswagen AG and the companies in which it is directly or indirectly invested are involved in a substantial number of legal disputes and governmental proceedings in Germany and abroad. Such legal disputes and other proceedings occur, among other things, in connection with products and services or in relation to employees, public authorities, dealers, investors, customers, suppliers, or other contracting parties. For the companies in question, these disputes and proceedings may result in payments such as fines or in other obligations or consequences. In particular, substantial compensatory or punitive damages may have to be paid and cost-intensive measures may have to be implemented. In this context, specific estimation of the objectively likely consequences is often possible only to a very limited extent, if at all.
Various legal proceedings are pending worldwide, particularly in the USA, in which customers are asserting purported product-related claims, either individually or in class actions. These claims are as a rule based on alleged vehicle defects, including defects alleged in vehicle parts supplied to the Volkswagen Group. Compliance with legal or regulatory requirements (such as the GDPR) is another area in which risks may arise. This is particularly true in gray areas where Volkswagen and the relevant public authorities may interpret the law differently.
In connection with their business activities, Volkswagen Group companies engage in constant dialogue with regulatory agencies, including the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA – German Federal Motor Transport Authority). It is not possible to predict with assurance how government regulators will assess certain issues of fact and law in a particular situation. For this reason, the possibility that certain vehicle characteristics and/or type approval aspects may in particular ultimately be deemed deficient or impermissible cannot be ruled out. This is fundamentally a question of the regulatory agency’s specific evaluation in a concrete situation.
Risks may also result from actions for infringement of intellectual property, including infringement of patents, brands, or other third-party rights, particularly in Germany and the USA. If Volkswagen is alleged or determined to have violated third-party intellectual property rights, it may for instance have to pay damages, modify manufacturing processes, or redesign products, and may be barred from selling certain products; this may result in delivery and production restrictions or interruptions.
Criminal acts by individuals, which even the best compliance management system can never completely prevent, are another potential source of legal risks.
Appropriate insurance has been taken out to cover these risks where they were sufficiently definite and such coverage was economically sensible. Where necessary based on the information currently available, identified and correspondingly measurable risks have been reflected by recognizing provisions in amounts considered appropriate or disclosing contingent liabilities, as the case may be. As some risks cannot be assessed or can only be assessed to a limited extent, the possibility of material loss or damage not covered by the insured amounts or by provisions cannot be ruled out. This is, for instance, the case with regard to the legal risks assessed in connection with the diesel issue.
Unless otherwise explicitly stated, the amounts disclosed for the litigation being reported on refer only to the respective principal claim. Ancillary claims, such as for interest and litigation expense, are generally not considered.
Diesel issue
On September 18, 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publicly announced in a “Notice of Violation” that irregularities in relation to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions had been discovered in emissions tests on certain Volkswagen Group vehicles with 2.0 l diesel engines in the USA. In this context, Volkswagen AG announced that noticeable discrepancies between the figures recorded in testing and those measured in actual road use had been identified in type EA 189 diesel engines and that this engine type had been installed in roughly eleven million vehicles worldwide. On November 2, 2015, the EPA issued a “Notice of Violation” alleging that irregularities had also been discovered in the software installed in US vehicles with type V6 3.0 l diesel engines.
The so-called diesel issue is rooted in a modification of parts of the software of the relevant engine control units – which, according to Volkswagen AG’s legal position, is only unlawful under US law – for the type EA 189 diesel engines that Volkswagen AG was developing at that time. This software function was developed and implemented from 2006 on without knowledge at the level of the Board of Management. Members of the Board of Management did not learn of the development and implementation of this software function until the summer of 2015.
There are furthermore no findings that, following the publication in May 2014 of the study by the International Council on Clean Transportation, an unlawful “defeat device” under US law was disclosed to the persons responsible for preparing the 2014 annual and consolidated financial statements as the cause of the high NOx emissions in certain US vehicles with 2.0 l type EA 189 diesel engines. Rather, at the time the 2014 annual and consolidated financial statements were being prepared, the persons responsible for preparing these financial statements remained under the impression that the issue could be resolved with comparatively little expense. In the course of the summer of 2015, however, it became progressively apparent to individual members of Volkswagen AG’s Board of Management that the cause of the discrepancies in the USA was a modification of parts of the software of the engine control unit that was later identified as an unlawful “defeat device” as defined by US law. This culminated in Volkswagen’s disclosure of a “defeat device” to the EPA and the California Air Resources Board, a department of the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of California, on September 3, 2015. According to the assessment at the time by the responsible persons dealing with the matter, the magnitude of the costs expected to result for the Volkswagen Group (recall costs, retrofitting costs, and financial penalties) was not fundamentally dissimilar to that in previous cases involving other vehicle manufacturers. It therefore appeared to be manageable overall considering the business activities of the Volkswagen Group. This assessment by Volkswagen AG was based, among other things, on the advice of a law firm engaged in the USA for regulatory approval issues, according to which similar cases had in the past been amicably resolved with the US authorities. The EPA’s publication of the “Notice of Violation” on September 18, 2015, which the Board of Management had not expected, especially at that time, then presented the situation in an entirely different light.
The AUDI AG Board of Management members in office at the time in question have likewise stated that they had no knowledge of the use of “defeat device” software that was prohibited by US law in the type V6 3.0 l TDI engines until the EPA issued its November 2015 “Notice of Violation.”
Within the Volkswagen Group, Volkswagen AG has development responsibility for the four-cylinder diesel engines such as the type EA 189, and AUDI AG has development responsibility for the six- and eight-cylinder diesel engines such as the type V6 3.0 l and V8 4.2 l diesel engines.
As a consequence of the diesel issue, numerous judicial and regulatory proceedings were initiated in various countries. Volkswagen has in the interim succeeded in making substantial progress and ending many of these proceedings. In the USA Volkswagen AG and certain affiliates reached settlement agreements with various government authorities and private plaintiffs, the latter represented by a Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in a multidistrict litigation in the US state of California. The agreements in question include various partial consent decrees as well as a plea agreement that resolved certain civil claims as well as criminal charges under US federal law and the laws of certain US states in connection with the diesel issue. Although Volkswagen is firmly committed to fulfilling the obligations arising from these agreements, a breach of these obligations cannot be completely ruled out. In the event of a violation, significant penalties could be imposed as stipulated in the agreements, in addition to the possibility of further monetary fines, criminal sanctions and injunctive relief.
In agreement with the respective responsible authorities, the Volkswagen Group is making technical measures available worldwide for virtually all diesel vehicles with type EA 189 engines. For all clusters (groups of vehicles) within its jurisdiction, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA – German Federal Motor Transport Authority) determined that implementation of the technical measures would not result in any adverse changes in fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, engine output, maximum torque, and noise emissions.
Following the studies carried out by AUDI AG to check all relevant diesel concepts for possible irregularities and retrofit potential, measures proposed by AUDI AG have been adopted and mandated by the KBA in various recall orders pertaining to vehicle models with V6 and V8 TDI engines. AUDI AG continues to anticipate that the total cost, including recall expenses, of the ongoing largely software-based retrofit program that began in July 2017 will be manageable and has recognized corresponding balance-sheet risk provisions. AUDI AG has in the meantime developed software updates for many of the affected powertrains and, after approval by the KBA, already installed these updates in the vehicles of a large number of affected customers. The few software updates still being developed are expected to be submitted to the KBA for approval early in the second quarter of 2022.
In connection with the diesel issue, potential consequences for Volkswagen’s results of operations, financial position and net assets could emerge primarily in the following legal areas:
1. Criminal and administrative proceedings worldwide (excluding the USA/Canada)
Criminal investigations, regulatory offense proceedings, and/or administrative proceedings have been commenced in some countries. Criminal investigations into the core factual issues are being conducted by the Offices of the Public Prosecutor in Braunschweig and Munich.
In January 2021, the criminal proceedings regarding alleged market manipulation relating to capital market disclosure obligations in connection with the diesel issue were terminated by the Braunschweig Regional Court provisionally as regards the former Chair of the Board of Management and definitively as regards Volkswagen AG.
In September 2020, the Braunschweig Regional Court allowed the indictment of the same former Chair of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and others to proceed on charges that include fraud in connection with the diesel issue involving type EA 189 engines. The proceedings against this former Chair of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG have since been severed from the other cases. The trial of the other defendants began in September 2021.
The Braunschweig Office of the Public Prosecutor is furthermore conducting investigations on suspicion of fraud in connection with type EA 288 engines.
In June 2020, the Munich II Regional Court accepted the substantially unchanged indictment of the Munich II Office of the Public Prosecutor, which also names a former Chair of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, and opened the main trial proceedings on charges of, among other things, fraud in connection with the diesel issue involving 3.0 l and 4.2 l TDI engines. Trial proceedings commenced in September 2020.
In August 2020, the Munich II Office of the Public Prosecutor issued a further indictment charging three former members of the Board of Management of AUDI AG and others with, among other things, fraud in connection with the diesel issue involving 3.0 l and 4.2 l TDI engines.
In connection with the diesel issue, the Stuttgart Office of the Public Prosecutor is conducting a criminal investigation on suspicion of fraud and illegal advertising; this investigation also involves a member of the Board of Management of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
As the type approval authority of proper jurisdiction, the KBA is moreover continuously testing Audi, Volkswagen, and Porsche brand vehicles for problematic functions. If certain functions are deemed impermissible by the KBA, the affected vehicles are recalled pursuant to a recall order or they are brought back into compliance by means of a voluntary service measure.
Moreover, additional administrative proceedings relating to the diesel issue are ongoing in other jurisdictions.
The companies of the Volkswagen Group are cooperating with the government authorities.
Risks may furthermore result from possible decisions by the European Court of Justice construing EU type approval provisions.
Whether the criminal and administrative proceedings will ultimately result in fines or other consequences for the Company, and if so what amounts these may entail, is currently subject to estimation risks. According to Volkswagen’s estimates, the likelihood that a sanction will be imposed is 50% or less in the majority of these proceedings. Contingent liabilities have therefore been disclosed where the amount of such liabilities could be measured and the likelihood of a sanction being imposed was assessed at not less than 10%.
2. Product-related lawsuits worldwide (excluding the USA/Canada)
A general possibility exists that customers in the affected markets will file civil lawsuits or that importers and dealers will assert recourse claims against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies. Besides individual lawsuits, various forms of collective actions (i.e. assertion of individual claims by plaintiffs acting jointly or as representatives of a class) are available in various jurisdictions. Furthermore, in a number of markets it is possible for consumer and/or environmental organizations to bring suit to enforce alleged rights to injunctive relief, declaratory judgment, or damages.
Customer class action lawsuits and actions brought by consumer and/or environmental organizations are pending against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies in a number of countries including Belgium, Brazil, England and Wales, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and South Africa. Alleged rights to damages and other relief are asserted in these actions. The pending actions include in particular the following:
In Australia, two civil suits filed against Volkswagen AG and other Group companies by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) were settled for the sum of AUD 75 million in the second half of 2019. On appeal, the amount of the settlement was increased to AUD 125 million by final judicial ruling in the reporting year.
In Belgium, the Belgian consumer organization Test Aankoop VZW has filed a class action to which an opt-out mechanism has been held to apply. Given the opt-out rule, the class action potentially covers all vehicles with type EA 189 engines purchased by consumers on the Belgian market after September 1, 2014, unless the right to opt out is actively exercised. The asserted claims are based on purported violations of unfair competition and consumer protection law as well as on alleged breach of contract.
In Brazil, two consumer protection class actions are pending. The first of these class actions pertains to some 17 thousand Amarok vehicles and the second to roughly 67 thousand later generation Amaroks. In the first class action, an appeals judgment was rendered in May 2019 that only partially upheld the lower court’s decision. This judgment initially reduced the damage liability of Volkswagen do Brasil considerably to around BRL 172 million. This amount can increase as a result of the adjudicated inflation rate and the assertion of individual claims alleging declines in the value of affected Amarok vehicles. The appeals judgment remains non-final since Volkswagen do Brasil has appealed it to a higher court. The second class action was dismissed as inadmissible in October 2021. The judgment is appealable.
The financialright GmbH filed consolidated actions before various German courts asserting claims assigned to it by customers in Germany, Slovenia, and Switzerland against Volkswagen Group companies. Following the withdrawal of numerous motions for relief, approximately 36 thousand claims are currently still pending. Some cases have in the meantime moved to the first or second appeals level. There is, however, as yet no high court ruling on the permissibility of the business model of financialright GmbH.
In England and Wales, suits filed in court by various law firms have been joined in a single collective action (group litigation). Because of the opt-in mechanism, not all vehicles with type EA 189 engines are automatically covered by the group litigation; potential claimants must instead take action in order to join. To date, some 91 thousand plaintiffs have registered claims under the group litigation, for which the opt-in period has expired. Further plaintiff law firms have registered roughly 105 thousand additional claims with the court. The question of liability on the part of Volkswagen was not among the preliminary issues that the High Court decided in April 2020 and will be dealt with at a later stage of the proceedings. The main trial proceedings are to begin in January 2023. In addition, in late 2021 a new lawsuit was filed in court against Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited, and other Volkswagen Group companies in connection with certain diesel vehicles leased or sold in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland since 2009 and various other diesel engine types.
In France, a class action is pending that was filed by the French consumer organization Confédération de la Consommation, du Logement et du Cadre de Vie (CLCV) against Volkswagen Group Automotive Retail France and Volkswagen AG for up to 1 million French owners and lessees of vehicles with type EA 189 engines. This is an opt-in class action.
In Italy, a trial level judgment in favor of the plaintiffs was rendered by the Venice Regional Court in July 2021 in the class action brought by the consumer association Altroconsumo on behalf of Italian customers; the judgment requires Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen Group Italia to pay damages to some 63 thousand consumers in an aggregate amount of roughly €185 million. Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen Group Italia have appealed this decision.
In the Netherlands, an opt-out class action is pending that was brought by Stichting Volkswagen Car Claim seeking declaratory rulings for up to 165 thousand customers. A declaratory judgment partially granting the relief sought was issued in July 2021. In the opinion of the court, Volkswagen AG and the other defendant Group companies acted unlawfully with respect to the original engine management software. The court moreover held that consumers are entitled to a purchase price reduction from the defendant dealerships. No specific payment obligations result from the declaratory judgment. Any individual claims would then have to be established afterwards in separate proceedings. Volkswagen AG and the other defendant Group companies have appealed the decision. Furthermore, an opt-out class action lawsuit brought by the Diesel Emissions Justice Foundation seeking monetary damages on behalf of Dutch consumers is also pending. It currently remains unclear whether other consumers in addition to those in the Netherlands may join this class action. The class action relates to vehicles with type EA 189 engines, among others.
In Portugal, a Portuguese consumer organization has filed an opt-out class action. The class action potentially affects up to approximately 99 thousand vehicles with type EA 189 engines. The complaint seeks vehicle return and alleges damages as well.
In South Africa, an opt-out class action seeking damages is pending that pertains to some 8 thousand vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines in addition to approximately 72 thousand vehicles with type EA 189 engines.
Furthermore, individual lawsuits and similar proceedings are pending against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies in various countries; most of these lawsuits are seeking damages or rescission of the purchase contract.
In Germany, roughly 60 thousand individual lawsuits relating to various diesel engine types are currently pending against Volkswagen AG or other Group companies, with the plaintiffs suing for damages or rescission of the contract in most cases.
In 2020, the Bundesgerichtshof (BGH – Federal Court of Justice) issued a series of fundamental judgments deciding legal issues of major importance for the litigation still pending with regard to vehicles with type EA 189 engines. The BGH held that buyers who had purchased vehicles prior to public disclosure of the diesel issue had damage claims against Volkswagen AG. While buyers can require reimbursement of the purchase price paid, they must accept a deduction for the benefit derived from using the vehicle and must return it to Volkswagen AG. Buyers have no tort-based claim for damages if they purchased their vehicles after the ad hoc announcement of September 22, 2015 or if they raise claims based solely on a temperature-dependent emissions control feature (so-called thermal window) in the engine. In February 2022, the BGH issued further fundamental judgments concerning vehicles with EA 189 motors deciding that buyers of new vehicles of the Volkswagen brand were entitled to so-called residual damage claims against Volkswagen AG after the knowledge-based limitation period has expired. As a result, Volkswagen AG has to repay the purchase price of the vehicle or the price paid by the dealer. The BGH decided that the claims for residual damages do not extend beyond claims of ordinary damages. Buyers need to subtract the value of usage and can only demand payment of the residual damages if they in return relinquish the vehicle. Prior to this the BGH had decided that, in contrast, buyers of used vehicles are not entitled to residual damages.
Volkswagen estimates the likelihood that the plaintiffs will prevail to be 50% or less in the great majority of cases: customer class actions, complaints filed by consumer and/or environmental organizations, and individual lawsuits. Contingent liabilities are disclosed for these proceedings where the amount of such liabilities can be measured and the chance that the plaintiff will prevail was assessed as not remote. Given the early stage of the proceedings, it is in many cases not yet possible to quantify the realistic risk exposure. Furthermore, provisions were recognized to the extent necessary based on the current assessment.
At this time, it cannot be estimated how many customers will choose to file lawsuits in the future in addition to those already pending and what prospect of success such lawsuits might have.
3. Lawsuits filed by investors worldwide (excluding the USA/Canada)
Investors from Germany and abroad have filed claims for damages against Volkswagen AG – in some cases along with Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Porsche SE) as joint and several debtors – based on purported losses due to alleged misconduct in capital market communications in connection with the diesel issue.
The vast majority of these investor lawsuits are currently pending before the Braunschweig Regional Court. In August 2016, the Braunschweig Regional Court issued an order referring common questions of law and fact relevant to the investor lawsuits pending before it to the Higher Regional Court in Braunschweig for binding declaratory rulings pursuant to the Kapitalanleger-Musterverfahrensgesetz (KapMuG – German Capital Investor Model Declaratory Judgment Act). In this proceeding, common questions of law and fact relevant to these actions are to be adjudicated by the Braunschweig Higher Regional Court in a single consolidated proceeding (model case proceedings). The lawsuits filed with the Braunschweig Regional Court are stayed pending resolution of the common issues, unless the cases can be dismissed for reasons independent of the common issues that are to be adjudicated in the model case proceedings. The resolution in the model case proceedings of the common questions of law and fact will be binding for the pending cases that have been stayed as described. The model case plaintiff is Deka Investment GmbH. Oral argument in the model case proceedings before the Braunschweig Higher Regional Court began in September 2018 and is continuing at subsequent hearings. The latest indication from the court was that it may take evidence on certain points.
Further investor lawsuits have been filed with the Stuttgart Regional Court against Volkswagen AG, in some cases along with Porsche SE as joint and several debtor. A further investor action for model declaratory judgment is pending before the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court against Porsche SE; Volkswagen AG is involved in this action as a third party intervening in support of a party to the dispute. The Wolverhampton City Council, Administrating Authority for the West Midlands Metropolitan Authorities Pension Fund, has been appointed model case plaintiff. Oral argument in this case began in July 2021 and is to be continued.
In the Netherlands, an unquantified action filed by a shareholder association seeking a determination that Volkswagen AG had supposedly misled the capital markets was withdrawn in early July 2021 after the European Court of Justice held that the courts of the Netherlands lacked international jurisdiction in a similar case. Volkswagen AG consented to the withdrawal of the action. This terminated the litigation without precluding the filing of subsequent lawsuits.
Excluding the United States and Canada and following the withdrawal of various actions, claims in connection with the diesel issue totaling roughly €9.5 billion are currently pending worldwide against Volkswagen AG in the form of investor lawsuits, judicial applications for dunning and conciliation procedures, and claims under the KapMuG. Volkswagen AG remains of the opinion that it duly complied with its capital market obligations. Therefore, no provisions have been recognized for these investor lawsuits. Contingent liabilities have been disclosed where the chance of success was estimated to be not less than 10%.
4. Proceedings in the USA/Canada
In the USA and Canada, the matters described in the EPA’s “Notices of Violation” are the subject of various types of lawsuits and requests for information that have been filed against Volkswagen AG and other Volkswagen Group companies, in particular by customers, investors, salespersons, and various government agencies in Canada and the United States, including the attorneys general of several US states.
The Texas attorney general and some municipalities continue to pursue actions in state and federal courts against Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., and certain affiliates, alleging violations of environmental laws. In January 2022, the Texas Supreme Court granted the February 2021 petition of the State of Texas for review of the Texas appellate court decision that had dismissed the environmental claims of Texas against Volkswagen AG and AUDI AG for lack of personal jurisdiction.
In November 2021, the US Supreme Court denied petitions by Volkswagen requesting that it reviews both a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declining to dismiss certain claims brought by Hillsborough County, Florida, and Salt Lake County, Utah, and a decision by the Ohio Supreme Court declining to dismiss certain claims brought by the State of Ohio.
In the reporting year and in early 2022, Volkswagen settled the environmental claims brought by Montana and New Hampshire (in September 2021), Illinois (in December 2021), and Ohio (in January 2022).
In March 2019, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against, among others, Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Group of America Finance, LLC, and VW Credit, Inc., asserting claims under US federal securities law based, among other things, on alleged misstatements and omissions in connection with the offer and sale of certain bonds and asset-backed securities. In August 2020, the US District Court for the Northern District of California granted in part and denied in part Volkswagen’s motion to dismiss. The claims dismissed by the court included all claims against VW Credit, Inc. related to asset-backed securities. In September 2020, the SEC filed an amended complaint that, among other things, removed the dismissed claims.
As to private civil law matters, in an environmental class action lawsuit seeking punitive damages on behalf of the residents of the Province of Quebec, after authorizing the case to proceed as a class, a Quebec court ruled in October 2020 that issues raised as to the viability of plaintiffs’ damages theory should be deferred until trial. On that basis, the court denied a motion to dismiss by Volkswagen. Subsequently, Volkswagen settled the case. The settlement is subject to court approval, which is currently pending.
In line with IAS 37.92, no statements have been made concerning estimates of financial impact or regarding uncertainty as to the amount or maturity of provisions and contingent liabilities in relation to proceedings in the USA/Canada. This is so as to not compromise the results of the proceedings or the interests of the Company.
5. Special audit
In a November 2017 ruling, the Higher Regional Court of Celle ordered, upon the request of three US funds, the appointment of a special auditor for Volkswagen AG. The special auditor is to examine whether the members of the Board of Management and Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG breached their duties in connection with the diesel issue from June 22, 2006 onwards and, if so, whether this resulted in damages for Volkswagen AG. The ruling by the Higher Regional Court of Celle is formally unappealable. However, Volkswagen AG has filed a constitutional complaint with the German Federal Constitutional Court alleging infringement of its constitutional rights. Following the formally unappealable ruling from the Higher Regional Court of Celle, the special auditor appointed by the court indicated that he was not available to conduct the special audit on grounds of age. In April 2020, the Celle Higher Regional Court issued a ruling appointing a different special auditor. Volkswagen AG has filed a constitutional complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court contesting this formally unappealable decision as well on grounds of infringement of its constitutional rights and has suggested joinder of this matter with its initial constitutional complaint against the decision to appoint the special auditor. It is currently unclear when the Federal Constitutional Court will rule on the two constitutional complaints. The constitutional complaints have no suspensory effect.
In addition, a second motion seeking appointment of a special auditor for Volkswagen AG to examine matters relating to the diesel issue has been filed with the Regional Court of Hanover. This proceeding has been stayed pending a decision by the Federal Constitutional Court in the initial special auditor litigation.
6. Damage settlements
At the end of March 2021, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG announced the completion of the investigation initiated in October 2015 into the causes of and those responsible for the diesel issue. The Board resolved to claim damages from Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, former Chair of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, and from Rupert Stadler, former member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and former Chair of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, for breach of their duty of care under stock corporation law. The resolution was based on identified negligent breaches of duty. The investigation found no breaches of duty by other members of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management. The investigation covered all members of the Board of Management who were in office during the relevant period. In June 2021, agreements on damage payments were reached in this connection with the goal of achieving speedy, legally certain, and final resolution of the diesel issue as far as the civil liability of members of governing bodies is concerned. To this end, Volkswagen and Audi entered into damage settlements (liability settlements) with Prof. Dr. Winterkorn and Mr. Stadler respectively in connection with the diesel issue. Prof. Dr. Winterkorn’s damage payment amounts to €11.2 million and that of Mr. Stadler to €4.1 million. Volkswagen has furthermore reached agreement with the relevant insurers under its directors and officers liability policies (D&O insurance) on payment of an aggregate sum of €270 million (coverage settlement).
In addition, agreement was reached on damage payments by a former member of Audi’s Board of Management and by a former member of Porsche’s Board of Management. One former member of Audi’s Board of Management was unwilling to reach a settlement; legal action is being prepared against him. Claims were already asserted against a former member of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand Board of Management.
7. Risk assessment regarding the diesel issue
An amount of around €2.1 billion (previous year: €1.9 billion) has been included in the provisions for litigation and legal risks as of December 31, 2021 to account for the currently known legal risks related to the diesel issue based on the presently available information and the current assessments. Where adequately measurable at this stage, contingent liabilities relating to the diesel issue have been disclosed in the notes in an aggregate amount of €4.3 billion (previous year: €4.2 billion), whereby roughly €3.6 billion (previous year: €3.5 billion) of this amount results from lawsuits filed by investors in Germany. The provisions recognized, the contingent liabilities disclosed, and the other latent legal risks in the context of the diesel issue are in part subject to substantial estimation risks given the complexity of the individual relevant factors, the ongoing coordination with the authorities, and the fact that the fact-finding efforts have not yet been concluded. Should these legal or estimation risks materialize, this could result in further substantial financial charges. In particular, adjustment of the provisions recognized in light of knowledge acquired or events occurring in the future cannot be ruled out.
In line with IAS 37.92, no further statements have been made concerning estimates of financial impact or regarding uncertainty as to the amount or maturity of provisions and contingent liabilities in relation to the diesel issue. This is so as to not compromise the results of the proceedings or the interests of the Company.
Additional important legal cases
In 2011, ARFB Anlegerschutz UG (haftungsbeschränkt) filed a claim for damages against Volkswagen AG and Porsche SE for allegedly violating disclosure requirements under capital market law in connection with the acquisition of ordinary shares in Volkswagen AG by Porsche SE in 2008. The damages being sought based on allegedly assigned rights currently amount to approximately €2.26 billion plus interest. In April 2016, the Hanover Regional Court formulated numerous objects of declaratory judgment that the antitrust panel of the Higher Regional Court in Celle will decide on in model case proceedings under the KapMuG. At the first hearing in October 2017, the court already indicated that it currently sees no justification for claims against Volkswagen AG, both because the pleadings are not sufficiently specific and for substantive legal reasons. Volkswagen AG sees the court’s statements as confirmation that the claims against the Company are absolutely baseless. The Higher Regional Court has yet to render a decision. Further hearings are scheduled for 2022.
In Brazil, the Brazilian tax authorities commenced tax proceedings against MAN Latin America; at issue in these proceedings are the tax consequences of the acquisition structure chosen for MAN Latin America in 2009. In December 2017, an adverse administrative appeal ruling was rendered against MAN Latin America. MAN Latin America challenged this ruling before the regular court in 2018. Estimation of the risk in the event the tax authorities prevail on all points is subject to uncertainty because of differences in the amount of penalties and interest that might then apply under Brazilian law. However, a positive outcome for MAN Latin America remains the expectation. Should this not occur, a risk of about BRL 3.2 billion could result for the contested period from 2009 onwards; this amount has been included in contingent liabilities in the notes.
In 2011, the European Commission conducted searches at European truck manufacturers for suspected unlawful exchange of information during the period from 1997 to 2011; in November 2014, the Commission issued a statement of objections to MAN, Scania, and the other truck manufacturers concerned. In its settlement decision of July 2016, the European Commission assessed fines against five European truck manufacturers. MAN’s fine was waived in full as the company had informed the European Commission about the irregularities as a key witness.
In September 2017, the European Commission fined Scania €0.88 billion. Scania appealed to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and mounted a comprehensive defense.
In a judgment rendered in February 2022, the European General Court (Court of First Instance) rejected Scania’s appeal in its entirety. Scania is currently analyzing the judgment and will in timely fashion decide whether to appeal it to the European Court of Justice. Scania had already recognized a provision of €0.4 billion in 2016 and increased this provision to approximately €0.9 billion in the reporting year.
Furthermore, antitrust lawsuits seeking damages have been received from customers. As is the case in any antitrust proceedings, this may result in further lawsuits for damages. No provisions have been recognized or contingent liabilities disclosed for these cases as most of them are still in an early stage and currently cannot be assessed for this reason. In other cases, the chance of a decision by a court of last resort that awards damages against MAN or Scania currently appears remote.
In April 2019, the European Commission issued an initial statement of objections to Volkswagen AG, AUDI AG, and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in connection with the Commission’s antitrust investigation of the automobile industry. These objections stated the European Commission’s preliminary evaluation of the matter and afforded the opportunity to comment. Following entry into a formal settlement procedure, in April 2021 the Commission issued a revised statement of objections raising charges that were considerably more narrow. On this basis, a settlement decision was issued on July 8, 2021 concluding the administrative action and assessing a total fine of roughly €502 million against the three brands. The subject matter scope of the decision is limited to the cooperation of German automobile manufacturers on individual technical questions in connection with the development and introduction of SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems for passenger cars that were sold in the European Economic Area. The manufacturers are not charged with any other misconduct such as price fixing or allocating markets and customers. Volkswagen accepted the decision, which was served on July 12, 2021, and filed no appeal, thus allowing the decision to become final.
The Korean competition authority KFTC is analyzing potential violations based on the facts of the EU case. The final report of the KFTC’s appointed case handler was issued in November 2021. Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche will reply to this report. The Turkish competition authorities, who investigated similar matters, issued a final decision in January 2022 in which they determined anticompetitive behavior to allegedly exist, but found that it had no effect on Turkey, for which reason they refrained from imposing fines on the German automakers. Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche are currently considering whether to file an appeal. Based on comparable matters, the Chinese competition authority has instituted proceedings against Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche, among others, and issued requests for information.
In October 2020, the US District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed two antitrust class action complaints. The plaintiffs in these actions had alleged that several automobile manufacturers including Volkswagen AG and other Group companies had conspired to unlawfully increase vehicle prices in violation of US antitrust and consumer protection law. The court held that the plaintiffs have not stated a claim for relief because the allegations in the complaints do not plausibly support that the alleged agreements unreasonably restrained competition in violation of US law. The plaintiffs appealed this ruling. In August 2021, the plaintiffs in one of the two class actions withdrew their appeal. In October 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the other class action by the US District Court for the Northern District of California. After receiving an extension until December 27, 2021, the plaintiffs in the latter class action filed a motion for rehearing, which the Ninth Circuit denied on January 25, 2022. On December 28, 2021, those plaintiffs also filed a motion seeking to set aside the District Court’s October 2020 judgment and to be allowed to file a new amended complaint. Plaintiffs in Canada filed claims with similar allegations on behalf of putative classes of purchasers against several automobile manufacturers, including Volkswagen Group Canada Inc., Audi Canada Inc., and other Volkswagen Group companies. Neither provisions nor contingent liabilities are stated because the early stage of the proceedings makes an assessment of the realistic risk exposure currently impossible.
In addition, a few national and international authorities have initiated antitrust investigations. Volkswagen is cooperating closely with the responsible authorities in these investigations. An assessment of the underlying situation is not possible at this early stage.
Porsche AG has discovered potential regulatory issues relating to vehicles for various markets worldwide. There are questions as to the permissibility of specific hardware and software components used in type approval measurements. Differences compared with production versions may also have occurred in certain cases. Based on the information presently available, current production is not affected, however. The issues are unrelated to the defeat devices that were at the root of the diesel issue. Porsche AG is cooperating with the relevant authorities including the Stuttgart Office of the Public Prosecutor, which is investigating the matter in Germany. Based on the available information, no formal criminal investigation has been opened against the company, however. Porsche’s own internal investigations are still in progress.
In January 2021, a consolidated complaint was filed with the US District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that the affected vehicles used certain software and/or hardware that resulted in increased emissions and/or overstated fuel economy estimates as compared to the results of certification testing. The defendants (Volkswagen AG, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, and Porsche Cars North America, Inc.) have moved for dismissal of the action.
In December 2021, Navistar entered into a final Profit Sharing Settlement Agreement to terminate with past, present, and future effect certain disputes most recently litigated before an arbitration tribunal concerning the calculation of profit sharing amounts for purposes of Navistar’s corporate retiree healthcare commitments. At the same time and in the same context, an agreement to settle the class action lawsuits was also reached with class action members; this agreement is still subject to approval by the supervising court, which will hear the class action members before ruling. The final agreement provides for a payment by Navistar in an amount of €491 million (USD 556 million); in fulfillment of the agreement, Navistar has already made an initial payments totaling €88 million (USD 100 million). Navistar recognized provisions in this regard in prior periods.
In November 2021, three claimants accompanied by Greenpeace filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen AG before the Braunschweig Regional Court. The action seeks to compel Volkswagen to initially reduce in stages and by 2029 completely cease its production and placement into the stream of commerce of vehicles with internal combustion engines as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from development, production, and marketing (including third party vehicle use). The lawsuit further seeks to compel Volkswagen to exercise influence over Group companies, subsidiaries, and joint ventures so as to cause them to fulfill these demands as well. In addition, another action with identical requests for relief and by and large the same rationale has been filed by an organic farmer with the support of Greenpeace before the Detmold Regional Court. Volkswagen is analyzing the lawsuits and will defend itself against them.
Provisions were recognized by Volkswagen Bank GmbH and Volkswagen Leasing GmbH for possible claims in connection with financial services provided to consumers. These relate to actions involving certain features of customer loan and leasing agreements that may toll the running of the statutory cancellation time periods.
The lawsuit filed by GT Gettaxi Ltd. alleging in particular large damage claims, which was served on Volkswagen AG and another defendant in February 2020, was dismissed by the Cypriot first instance court in August 2021 due to lack of jurisdiction of the Cypriot courts. GT Gettaxi Ltd. has appealed this decision to the Supreme Court (which is the court of final appeal in Cyprus).
In line with IAS 37.92, no further statements have been made concerning estimates of financial impact or regarding uncertainty as to the amount or maturity of provisions and contingent liabilities in relation to additional important legal cases. This is so as to not compromise the results of the proceedings or the interests of the Company.