Which automaker admitted to cheating on diesel emissions tests in 2015?

Which automaker admitted to cheating on diesel emissions tests in 2015? Volkswagen admitted to cheating on diesel emissions tests in 2015.

The Volkswagen emissions scandal began publicly in September 2015, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleged that Volkswagen had installed “defeat device” software in certain diesel vehicles. The software could recognize laboratory testing conditions and activate full emissions controls, allowing the cars to pass the official test while emitting far more nitrogen oxides during normal driving.

The affected vehicles were marketed under Volkswagen’s clean-diesel campaign. The scandal initially centered on certain 2.0-liter diesel cars sold in the United States, including Volkswagen and Audi models, and later expanded to additional engines and countries. Volkswagen acknowledged the use of the software and faced recalls, fines, lawsuits, and criminal proceedings.

A common mistake is to treat the scandal as involving every Volkswagen vehicle or every diesel model. The allegations concerned specific model years, engines, and software systems, although the broader fallout affected the entire Volkswagen Group. The episode also intensified worldwide scrutiny of real-world vehicle emissions and diesel regulation.