An official report on the emissions scandal at Volkswagen AG will be published later this month, and Automotive News claims that Audi designed the infamous “defeat device” back in 1999.
Volkswagen apparently started using it to rig emissions tests six years later when engineers realized they could not lower nitrogen oxide levels below the legal limit. Regulators were oblivious to the cheating, which allowed millions of dirty engines to hit the road.
Both Volkswagen and Audi have refused to comment since the investigation is still ongoing.