* Volkswagen executives were warned about the dangers of Takata air bags in 2011, but the company resisted recalling its vehicles.

* Documents show that Volkswagen engineers knew that the air bags could explode and cause serious injuries or death.

* The company lobbied regulators to delay a recall, and it continued to sell vehicles with Takata air bags even after the recall was issued.

Volkswagen is facing a growing scandal over its handling of the Takata air bag recall. Documents released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that the company was warned about the dangers of the air bags as early as 2011, but it resisted recalling its vehicles.

Takata air bags are made with a chemical called ammonium nitrate, which can explode if it comes into contact with moisture. The explosions can send shrapnel flying through the vehicle, which can cause serious injuries or death.

In 2011, Volkswagen engineers warned the company that Takata air bags were "unsafe" and that they "could explode and cause serious injuries or death." However, Volkswagen executives decided not to recall the vehicles.

Instead, the company lobbied NHTSA to delay a recall. Volkswagen argued that the air bags were not as dangerous as other air bags, and that a recall would be too expensive.

NHTSA eventually issued a recall for Volkswagen vehicles with Takata air bags in 2016. However, the company continued to sell vehicles with Takata air bags even after the recall was issued.

Volkswagen is now facing multiple lawsuits from people who were injured by exploding Takata air bags. The company has admitted that it knew about the dangers of the air bags, but it still chose to put profits ahead of safety.