They knew. In Western Europe most of the people knew that diesel cars are major cause of pollution, that the whole shenanigans are a sham and that politics, ca

They knew. In Western Europe most of the people knew that diesel cars are major cause of pollution, that the whole shenanigans are a sham and that politics, car makers are in on it. It would be very surprising that the people actually making it happen did not know. The dead giveaway was that the favoring of diesel cars over gasoline was supposed to lower air pollution, but the before and after measurements showed a significant increase in air pollution. A EU investigation exposed a few countries governments for being aware of this and trying to delay the EU efforts to reinforce tests and controls.