VW: small group of engineers began working on cheat in 2005

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen executives say a small group of VW engineers began working as early as 2005 on emissions cheating software after they were unable to find a technical solution to U.S. emissions controls as the automaker pushed into the North American market.

The company in September admitted to have cheated on U.S. diesel emissions tests with the help of software installed in engines. The software was built into 11 million cars globally, about 500,000 of which in the U.S., from 2009 to 2015.

It has so far confirmed to have cheated only on the U.S. tests, which are more rigorous than European ones for the polluting emission nitrogen oxide.

Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch said Volkswagen is "relentlessly searching for those responsible" and that those who were would be brought to account.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.