South Korea yesterday said that it fined Volkswagen US$12.3 million and ordered recalls of 125,522 diesel vehicles after the government found their emissions tests were rigged.
Hong Dong-gon, a director at the Ministry of Environment, said in a live television broadcast that the ministry would continue investigating 30,000 other Volkswagen diesel cars for which it did not find evidence of emissions cheating.
The South Korean government launched investigations last month after the German automaker admitted that it rigged US tests so it would appear that its diesel-powered cars were emitting fewer nitrogen oxides, which can contribute to ozone buildup and respiratory illness.
Photo: AP
The ministry found that emissions from Tiguan diesel vehicles using EA189 engines breached standards when the car was not under the usual test conditions, such as when the air conditioner was on or when the car accelerated.
Volkswagen was ordered to recall 125,522 diesel vehicles equipped with the same EA189 engines sold in South Korea between 2008 and this year.
The recall covers 15 models, including the Tiguan, which was the top-selling imported car in South Korea last year.
The ministry said it is to continue investigating other cars using more recent EA288 engines that say they meet emissions standards known as “Euro-5” and “Euro-6.” They are Golf, Beetle, Jetta and Audi A3 diesel cars.
Volkswagen said it respects the investigation results.
“We will take necessary measures based on legal procedures and requirements under the relevant laws and regulations,” the German automaker said in a statement.
The ministry is also to expand the investigation into other auto brands. It said it is to announce the result in April after probing emissions levels in diesel cars sold by five local auto companies and 11 imported brands.
Meanwhile, California air quality regulators on Wednesday demanded a recall of up to 16,000 additional Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesel vehicles.
The notice from the California Air Resources Board came less than a week after US state and federal regulators disclosed that Volkswagen Group automakers installed software to cheat emissions tests on more diesels than initially thought.
The engines in question were built by Audi and distributed to Porsche and Volkswagen as well, said David Clegern, a California Air Resources Board spokesperson.
The automakers each independently certified their products with US state and federal regulators and are therefore all responsible, he said.
The software is on Audi Q7 and Volkswagen Touareg SUVs from the 2009 through 2016 model years, as well as the Porsche Cayenne from 2013 to 2016.
Also covered are Audi A6, A7, A8 and Q5s from the 2014 to 2016 model years, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The automakers have 45 business days to present a recall plan, according to regulations.
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