The engineer who actually wrote the code was most likely ordered to do so, yes. ("write something to set a flag when the wheels are running but the hood is open

The engineer who actually wrote the code was most likely ordered to do so, yes. ("write something to set a flag when the wheels are running but the hood is open, the GPS is silent and the accelerometers don't detect anything stronger than someone tapping at a window") Most likely, that engineer was ordered by drumroll another engineer. If you trace up the the chain of command at VW, it's not unlikely that it is engineers all the way up until you reach the shareholders, and even there you will find a significant fraction of shares owned by engineers.