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Volkswagen Engineers Charged With Insider Trading Tied to Rivian Joint Venture

Published July 26, 2026 at 12:03 PM UTC

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Federal prosecutors have charged two Volkswagen engineers with insider trading, alleging they used confidential information about the automaker's planned joint venture with electric-truck maker Rivian to make illegal stock trades. The charges, filed in a U.S. district court, mark a rare criminal enforcement action involving foreign employees of a major automaker. The case centers on trades made in early 2023, months before Volkswagen publicly announced its $5 billion investment and partnership with Rivian. Prosecutors say the engineers learned of the deal through internal communications and bought Rivian call options, netting over $500,000 in profits. The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed parallel civil charges. The engineers, who are German nationals, have been arrested in the United States and are expected to contest the charges. The case underscores regulators' focus on policing information leaks in high-profile corporate deals, especially those involving emerging industries like electric vehicles. The joint venture, which aims to combine Volkswagen's manufacturing scale with Rivian's software expertise, was seen as a key move in the EV market. If convicted, the engineers face up to 20 years in prison. The outcome could also affect Volkswagen's reputation as it seeks to deepen its U.S. presence.