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The former chief executive of the carmaker Volkswagen has been charged in Germany over his involvement in the company’s diesel emissions scandal.
The public prosecutor in Braunschweig charged Martin Winterkorn, and four other managers, with fraud.
Mr Winterkorn is already facing criminal charges in the US, but is unlikely to face trial, as Germany does not extradite its citizens.
The 71-year-old resigned soon after the scandal erupted in September 2015.
In a statement, prosectors accused Mr Winterkorn of a “particularly serious” fraud.
They said Mr Winterkorn should have alerted car owners and authorities in Europe and the US about the manipulation of diesel emissions tests sooner.
If found guilty, the former executive could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Prosecutors did not name the other four senior managers charged.