The carmaker was presenting itself as being run by technological diehards obsessed with building the world's best cars.
Skimping on state-of-the-art emissions technology between 2009 and 2014 probably saved VW a measly 4.3 billion euros, less than it has so far set aside to meet recall costs.
It isn't yet clear whether Martin Winterkorn knew about the "defeat devices" in certain U.S. cars, notes Olaf Storbeck.
Volkswagen may also have to compensate customers for misleading them about a car's performance.
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