"A German newspaper has reported that the use of "defeat device" software to cheat on U.S. emissions laws was widespread knowledge within the diesel-engine group at Volkswagen headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany.

And, it said, one whistleblower involved in the deception had alerted a senior manager outside the department as far back as 2011.

That manager apparently did nothing, however, and the cheating continued until the company admitted its deception to U.S. regulators last September."

John Voelcker reports for Green Car Reports January 23, 2016. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Volkswagen Probe Finds Manipulation Was Open Secret In Department: Newspaper" (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-investigation-idU... [3]

"VW Deepens Diesel-Scandal Woes With Denials, Confrontation, Muddled Messages" (Green Car Reports)
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101882_vw-deepens-diesel-scandal-wo... [4]