German prosecutors charged former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn and four others with fraud in the emissions cheating scandal that has helped turn many Europeans against diesel engines and accelerated the push toward electric cars. In all, some 11 million cars worldwide were equipped with the illegal software. Volkswagen has paid more than 27 billion euros (currently $31 billion) in fines and civil settlements with authorities and car owners since getting caught. Volkswagen plans to spend 30 billion euros to develop electric vehicles by 2023. Last year Volkswagen had record sales of 10.83 million vehicles, making an operating profit of 13.9 billion euros.

Source: ABC News April 15, 2019 11:20 UTC