The Dieselgate saga in Europe shows no signs of ending. A criminal court in Paris has referred Volkswagen to trial over the alleged use of illegal software designed to manipulate vehicle emissions.
But the German automaker may not be the only company in the dock. According to French media reports, prosecutors have also requested trials for Renault and the companies that are now part of the Stellantis group, including Peugeot, Citroën, and Fiat Chrysler. The case could potentially develop into a massive, multi-company trial.
A landmark trial in the Making
The European automotive sector once again faces the shadow of legal proceedings over a scandal that has already cost billions of euros and caused the decline of a leading diesel technology across the continent. While prosecutors’ requests for Renault and Stellantis are still under review, Volkswagen’s trial has been formally scheduled, with the first hearing set for December 18, 2026.
The proceedings are expected to continue well into 2027, six years after the various companies were initially registered as suspects. The investigation began in 2021, with the referral request submitted last year, and the decision to proceed against Volkswagen alone confirmed on January 30, 2026.
According to a lawyer involved, “the French judicial system is not equipped to handle cases of this scale.” Over 1,500 civil parties are involved, including private individuals, companies, public authorities (even the department of La Réunion), and environmental associations. French media have described the case as involving “an enormous fleet of vehicles potentially eligible for compensation.”
The Allegations
The charges against Volkswagen are consistent with those seen in Dieselgate cases worldwide. The company is accused of “fraud involving a product that poses a risk to human and animal health,” allegedly having “deliberately installed an illegal device” on diesel models. The devices reportedly detected emissions testing phases and adjusted engine performance to comply artificially with regulatory limits, thereby securing vehicle certification.
The alleged offenses concern around one million vehicles across Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Seat, Audi, and Škoda brands, equipped with the EA189 TDI engines (1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 liters) and sold between 2009 and 2016.
As the automotive world waits for further developments, the Volkswagen trial may mark one of the most significant legal proceedings related to Dieselgate in Europe. If Stellantis and Renault are formally charged, the proceedings could expand into a large-scale trial affecting multiple automakers and a wide range of stakeholders, from private consumers to governmental institutions.
The coming months and years will reveal whether Europe’s largest carmakers can finally close the chapter on one of the most notorious scandals in automotive history.
