USA
A senior executive in the 2015 Volkswagen emissions scandal has appeared in a Florida court charged with defrauding the United States.
Oliver Schmidt, was general manager in charge of Volkswagen’s environmental and engineering office in Michigan.
He was arrested on Saturday in Florida after attempting to return to Germany from a vacation.
His court appearance comes as the car maker nears a $3 billion-plus settlement with the US Justice and environment protection agency.
VW admitted in September 2015 to installing secret “defeat device” software in hundreds of thousands of US diesel cars to cheat exhaust emissions tests and make them appear cleaner than they were on the road, and that up to around 11 million vehicles could have similar software installed worldwide.
The ensuing scandal has cost the company more than $18.9 billion (18 billion euros) in provisions, led to the ousting of its longtime CEO Martin Winterkorn and forced it to drop its diesel offensive in the United States.
01:14
Trump leaves Beijing after last meetings with Xi
01:00
Xi gives Trump private tour of secret garden in Beijing
02:10
In Washington, Black cemeteries suffer decay, erasure
01:16
China-US: Trump sees a 'fantastic future' between the two countries
01:00
Watch: Key moments from Trump’s first day in Beijing
00:58
Iraqi military debunks claims of Israeli base in Karbala desert