Volkswagen executives were aware of the false fuel efficiency and emission test results for at least a year before the public was informed about it, according to a report by a German newspaper.

German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported in its weekend issue that Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn had known about the discrepancy by spring of 2015. In a statement released by Volkswagen it said that "The offering of the Blue Motion TDI Polo was suspended in all markets due to subdued demand. We are currently testing all models build from 2012 for differences in CO2 levels from the listed values."

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Winterkorn promised that Volkswagen will reduce fuel emissions down to 30 percent by 2015. However, the Bild am Sonntag report claims that Volkswagen engineers could not achieve that number and instead opted to cheat emissions tests for 800,000 vehicles, which were mainly sold in Europe.

In order to falsify emission tests results, Volkswagen used artificially high tire pressures as well as adding diesel fuel to the engine oil mixture.

The company previously pinned the blame on rogue elements in its workforce. Volkswagen America CEO Michael Horn blamed software engineers for installing defeat devices that were used to cheat emissions tests results. The new report claims that Volkswagen executives have insider knowledge about the actions that led the scandal.

According to Reuters, Winterkorn resigned as Volkswagen CEO in September following the company's admission that it had deceived United States regulators about the emissions test results.

Volkswagen declined to issue a comment regarding whether any other company executives know about the inaccuracies stated in its fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide output.

In case Volkswagen is found guilty of manipulating test results, the company is facing up to $18 billion in penalties.

Tagsvolkswagen, Volkswagen executives, Volkswagen scandal, Volkswagen emission test, Volkswagen emission test scandal, emission test scandal, Volkswagen Emission Test Faking