VW began cheating on emissions tests in 2008: sources

Frankfurt

VOLKSWAGEN began installing software designed to cheat on emissions tests in 2008 after realising that a new diesel engine, developed at great expense, could not meet pollution standards in the United States and other countries, people with knowledge of the carmaker's internal inquiry said on Sunday.

Rather than stop production of the engine and throw out years of work and investment, managers decided to cheat, the people, who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, said, confirming a report in German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

It remains unclear who was responsible for the decision, which has created a crisis at the world's largest carmaker. The deception will force the company to undertake …