Supplier must hand over emails in VW emissions suit: Court

(Reuters) — Supplier Robert Bosch GmbH must hand over emails in connection with lawsuits brought by investors against Porsche S.E. in connection with the Volkswagen diesel scandal, a Stuttgart, Germany, regional court ruled on Friday.

Investors in two separate suits claimed that Porsche, which controls 52.2% of VW’s voting rights, had not disclosed the financial risks of VW’s emissions scandal quickly enough when it emerged in 2015.

Their lawyers demanded that Bosch provide emails concerning its business with VW.

Bosch, which makes an engine control unit used by several top automakers, including VW, had protested, saying it had the right to refuse to provide evidence.

The Stuttgart court ruled that Bosch had no such right in this case.

It said the emails showed Bosch acted in accordance with the law, which meant it could not argue that it risked incriminating itself by handing them over.

Providing the emails would also not risk causing direct financial damage to the company or to anyone to whom it is accountable, it said.

Nor could Bosch refuse based on its right to protect trade secrets, since manipulation of engine control software is illegal and therefore not protected by law.

Bosch said it would await the court’s full written opinion and then consider how to respond.

“The company reserves the right to file a legal challenge to protect the interests of Bosch,” it said in a statement.

Preference shares in Porsche fell by more than 40% in the two weeks after the VW emissions scandal broke.

They remain nearly 10% below their value prior to the news that VW had cheated on emissions tests.