As Volkswagen Exec Heads to the Slammer, an Engineer Awaits His Fate

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

The first person sentenced in the sprawling Volkswagen emissions scandal is headed to jail in South Korea, but the man who helped design the defeat smog-spewing engines will have to wait for his punishment.

Reuters reports an executive of VW’s South Korean division was handed a sentence of one year, six months today for his side-role in the diesel deception. Meanwhile, a German engineer who was the first employee charged in the scandal will cool his heels a little while longer.

It seems he’s just too useful.

The Korean exec, known only by his surname Yun, fabricated emissions documents and noise-level tests to gain the certification needed to import the vehicles. Besides document fabrication and obstruction of work, authorities charged Yun with violating environmental rules. South Korea decertified 80 VW Group models in August.

“Volkswagen has by itself undermined its credibility as a global brand as a result of this crime which has caused grave social and economic damages,” Seoul Central District Court said in a statement.

Investigations continue into that country’s role in the scandal. Already, VW’s Korean division has seen a $31.87 million fine for false advertising claims.

In California, the long-time engineer who helped design the ill-fated diesel motors has seen his sentencing delayed. James R. Liang, who joined the company in 1983 and was part of the team that crafted the emissions-compromised TDI engines, won’t learn his fate on February 1.

According to Reuters, Liang’s knowledge has proved very useful to U.S. investigators.

U.S. District Judge Sean Cox has delayed the sentencing to May 3, “to allow more time for defendant’s cooperation in the investigation.” In a court filing, Cox claimed Liang was “cooperating with the government in the investigation and the potential prosecution of others.”

Liang left Germany to work for the automaker’s U.S. division in 2008, after helping develop a crop of new “clean diesel” engines designed to spur American sales.

[Image: SalFalco/ Flickr ( CC BY-NC 2.0)]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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 33 comments
  • April S April S on Jan 06, 2017

    Did anyone from General Motors management serve any jail time for the deaths caused by those faulty ignition switches? Just wondering...

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    • Dal20402 Dal20402 on Jan 10, 2017

      @28-Cars-Later It's very obvious when you're drinking and when you're not.

  • Mikey Mikey on Jan 06, 2017

    Germany will never let VW go belly up.

    • Psarhjinian Psarhjinian on Jan 06, 2017

      True, but this doesn't mean that VW won't get GM'ed and see it's management housecleaned out, or get fully Renault'ed via an outright nationalization. The government might not let a major employer bite the dust, but (especially in Europe) they wouldn't have an issue with piercing the corporate veil, going after directors, senior managers and such. VW is probably trying to avoid having to go cap-in-hand to the government in order to avoid such a fate. Most executives would not want to go through what Rick Wagoner and Fritz Henderson (justifiably) had to go through at GM.

  • GregLocock That's a bodge, not a solution. Your diff now has bits of broken off metal floating around in it.
  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
  • Jalop1991 The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged due to suspected improper assembly by the supplier. Over time, partial engagement can cause damage to the intermediate shaft splines. Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engagedGee, my Chrysler van automatically engages the parking brake when we put it in Park. Do you mean to tell me that the idjits at Kia, and the idjit buyers, couldn't figure out wanting this in THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE????
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