They were programmed to turn on pollution controls during testing and off while on the road. As always it's the little guy," the judge said, referring to car buyers and VW's blue-collar workers who might earn less in the future. In brief remarks to the judge, VW defence attorney Jason Weinstein says the criminal fine is an "appropriate and serious sanction." U.S. regulators confronted VW about the cheating software after West Virginia University researchers discovered differences in testing and real-world emissions of harmful nitrogen oxide. VW eventually admitted that the cars were programmed to turn pollution controls on during testing and off while on the road.

Source: CBC News April 21, 2017 18:11 UTC