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Volkswagen's US boss has admitted he was aware early last year of the emissions cheating affecting millions of the company's vehicles.

Michael Horn said he was told about a "possible emissions non-compliance" in the spring of 2014, the BBC reports.

The revelation was made in testimony due to be presented to a committee of the US House of Representatives investigating the scandal on Thursday.

He said he was told after a study by West Virginia University was published.

"I was informed that EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] regulations included various penalties for non-compliance with the emissions standards and that the agencies can conduct engineering tests which could include 'defeat device' testing or analysis," he said.
"I was also informed that the company engineers would work with the agencies to resolve the issue."

Mr Horn said in the written evidence it was not until 3 September this year that Volkswagen told US authorities about the "defeat device" in emissions software in diesel vehicles for the model years 2009 to 2015.