Topic: Emissions Testing

Volkswagen U.S. CEO Michael Horn testified before Congress regarding the company's use of "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests. Horn admitted the company provided false information to regulators but claimed senior management had no knowledge of the scheme. He attributed the software manipulation to a small group of engineers, a claim the hosts find difficult to believe.

A 2014 BBC Newsnight report previously highlighted how cars could detect they were being tested and switch to an ultra-efficient mode. Similar practices are reportedly common in the motorcycle industry, where dealers routinely remove factory-installed restrictions on Endurocross bikes after certification.

Evidence suggests that the Volkswagen emissions "secret" was known as early as December 2014, when BBC's Newsnight reported on cars detecting test cycles. The hosts question why the story only gained international traction months later, suggesting the timing may be linked to geopolitical pressures on Germany. The scandal is framed as a significant blow to the "Made in Germany" quality brand.