Cheating has been done before, but it cost less ...
Anyone who believes that computers and software are needed to falsify emissions measurements is mistaken, as a case from the early 1970s shows. Volkswagen had to pay a fine of USD 120,000 in March 1974 after it was discovered that so-called "defeat devices" had been installed in some commercial vehicle models.
At the time, the vehicles contained a temperature-dependent bypass of the exhaust gas monitoring system and the oxygen supply to the carburetor. These were purely mechanical devices, but they obviously had advantages. In any case, Volkswagen admitted to having sold 25,000 VW bus models of various types with such devices in 1973.
The fine was paid, but Volkswagen did not want this to be understood as an admission of guilt. However, the company did pledge to consistently comply with the "Clean Air Act" in future ...
