Ex-Audi chief arrives in German court to face dieselgate charges

MUNICH (Reuters) - Rupert Stadler, former chief executive of Audi <NSUG.DE> arrived in court in Munich on Wednesday to face fraud charges as part of Volkswagen's <VOWG_p.DE> emissions cheating scandal, which was uncovered by United States regulators five years ago.

Volkswagen and Audi were caught disguising excessive diesel pollution by using illegal engine management software to falsify emissions readings during anti-pollution tests.

The carmaker initially claimed the fraud was the work of a handful of engineers, and that no senior managers were involved, but testimony from a raft employees led prosecutors to remand Stadler in custody for four months in 2018.

He arrived in court in a Mercedes-Benz to face trial which is expected to take until 2022. Stadler is accused of knowingly selling cars which had manipulated engine software and did not comply with environmental standards.

Stadler has denied to charges.

(Reporting by Alexander Huebner; Writing by Edward Taylor; Editing by Thomas Seythal)