As opposed to the rest of the auto industry which has a stellar track record of adhering to emissions and fuel economy regulations /s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_emissions_scandal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defeat_device

And they lobbied governments to keep the tests a joke (e.g. test emissions on downwhill roads):

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/24/uk-franc...

Of course the governments probably lobbied for this stuff because it improves their car industry tax profits/employment numbers.

They all cheated and everyone knew it. It was the only way diesels could be so economical yet so powerful.