On the death of Klaus Kienle
04/07/2025
Last Tuesday, April 1, 2025, it was announced that Klaus Kienle had passed away. It was reported that the 77-year-old had been found dead in his home. Naturally, the idea of suicide immediately came to mind, but according to the Stuttgarter-Zeitung newspaper, Kienle died of natural causes.
Klaus Kienle's business came under judicial scrutiny at the beginning of 2023 . On May 31, 2023, his workshop was investigated by the Baden Württemberg State Office of Criminal Investigation and the Stuttgart public prosecutor's office on suspicion of "commercial fraud involving the sale of counterfeit classic cars", primarily involving examples of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W 198). According to Auto Bild, the officers confiscated two Mercedes 300 SLs, an engine, a tubular frame and various digital storage media, as well as written documents. The allegations of fraud led to the company 's insolvency . Mercedes-Benz subsequently took over parts of the inventory.
In October 2024, SWR broadcast its own documentary by Thorsten Link entitled "Scandal surrounding classic cars - the deep fall of Klaus Kienle".
Normally, dead people are not investigated as they can no longer be charged, but there may still be a trial, as there are still suspicions against other people in this case. According to "auto motor und sport", the public prosecutor's office explains: "... the aforementioned investigation is being conducted on suspicion of commercial fraud and is directed against several persons."
This means that the investigations against his company and other responsible persons are likely to continue.
