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The trial, being held in the city of
Braunschweig, close to Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg,
started without former CEO Martin Winterkorn, whose separate
trial will take place at a later date.
The four employees, who are accused of fraud, had been aware of
the illegal software but failed to raise the issue, instead
seeking to maximise profits for the carmaker and, as a result,
their performance bonuses, Braunschweig prosecutors said.
The defendants either claim they did not know about the
manipulation or had informed their superiors about it, judicial
sources said.
Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating U.S. diesel engine
tests, sparking the biggest crisis in its history.
It has cost the world's second-largest carmaker more than 32
billion euros ($37.7 billion) in vehicle refits, fines and legal
costs so far.
($1 = 0.8499 euros)
(Reporting by Jan Schwartz; Writing by Christoph Steitz)
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